Courtesy: Hartford Sports Information
USGA Recap
SAN FRANCISCO - University of Hartford men's golfer A.J. Oleksak was knocked out of the U.S. Amateur in the first round of match play on Wednesday afternoon at the Olympic Club.
Oleksak, who earlier in the day survived a four-hole playoff to earn the last spot in the match play event, lost 2-and-1 to top-seeded Jason Kokrak. The Hartford senior gave Kokrak a run for his money, staving off elimination until the penultimate hole.
Kokrak look to be in control following a birdie on the par-4 14th hole, taking a 4-up lead with only four holes left to play. Oleksak, however, cut the deficit in half with back-to-back birdies, holing out from the bunker on 15 and sinking a putt on 16. The two then traded bogies on the 17th hole, with Oleksak barely missing his putt to keep the match alive.
Oleksak never led in the match after starting with a bogey on the first hole. He did square the match with a birdie on the par-4 4th but then fell behind again with a bogey on the 6th. Kokrak extended the lead with birdies on the next two holes to go 3-up and then got to 4-up with a birdie on the 12th. After Oleksak made par on the 13th to take a hole back, Kokrak made birdie on the 14th to set the stage for the final three holes.
"Obviously, we are very proud of A.J.'s accomplishments," said Hartford head coach Bill Poutre. "He really showed how much of a fighter he is. At four down with four to go, he holes a bunker shot on 15 for birdie, makes another birdie on 16 and narrowly misses another putt on 17 to bring the match to the 18th tee. Keep in mind this all happened almost eight hours after he survived a 17-for-6 playoff by making four huge putts to get into match play. I guarantee you, A.J.'s opponent did not want to see 18. I think that if that putt on 17 falls, A.J. would have moved on to the next round."
Oleksak will return to Hartford for his final season this fall. Last year the Hawks repeated as America East champions and advanced to the NCAA East Regional for the 14th time in school history. As the lone senior on this season's squad, Oleksak will look to lead a young and talented group to another successful season.
"A.J. is our senior co-captain, and I'm looking to him to lead this team to a great season," said Poutre. "He is determined to get back to the NCAA Tournament. His experience, leadership, focus, determination and fight will be duplicated by the every member of this team."