Niebrugge, Kim reach Public Links final
LORTON, Va. >> Oklahoma State sophomore Jordan Niebrugge and University of California junior Michael Kim each won two matches Friday at Laurel Hill to advance to the 36-hole final in the U.S. Amateur Public Links.
Niebrugge, from Mequon, Wis., edged 16-year-old Dou Zecheng of China 1 up in the morning quarterfinals, and beat James Erkenbeck of San Diego 3 and 2 in the afternoon semifinals.
Kim, a Walker Cup player from Del Mar, Calif., beat Robby Shelton IV of Wilmer, Ala., 1 up in the quarterfinals, and topped Eric Sugimoto of San Diego 4 and 3 in the semifinals.
The tournament is limited to players who don’t hold privileges at any course that doesn’t extend playing privileges to the general public. The 36-hole championship match is Saturday.
The winner will get a spot next year in the Masters, if still an amateur.