U.S. Publinks: Another BYU golfer advances to second round

MIDWAY — BYU golfer Justin Keiley defeated Ryan Werre of Canada on the 19th hole of their match Wednesday afternoon at the U.S. Public Links Championship at Soldier Hollow Golf Course. Keiley joins Cougar teammate Zac Blair, who won his match earlier in the day with a 4 and 3 victory over Byron Meth of San Diego.

Keiley, who hails from Haiku, Hawaii, led for most of the match, but Werre tied the match with a birdie at hole 17. On the final hole, both players made birdie putts from about seven feet and went on to a playoff hole. After Keiley's 2-foot putt for par was conceded, Werre's 5-footer for par lipped out.

The other local player in match play, Sandy's Dan Horner, was defeated Wednesday by 18-year-old Jake Knapp of Costa Mesa, Calif., 3 and 2.

Blair will face Paul McConnell of Garland, Texas, in Thursday's second round at 7:10 a.m., while Keiley will take on Brad Schneider of Orlando, Fla., at 9:10 a.m. The tournament continues with another round of match play Thursday afternoon and two more rounds will be played Friday before Saturday's 36-hole final.

The medalist and No. 1 seed James Erkenbeck was upset in the first round by Alex Edfort, the No. 64 seed from Somerset, N.J., and the University of the Pacific in 21 holes. Also losing Wednesday was No. 3 seed Talor Gooch of Oklahoma, who lost to Sam Saunders of Albuquerque, 2 and 1.

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