Rising senior shoots 65 (-5) in round two to move on to field of 64 players
AUGUSTA, Ga. – GRU Augusta men's golf rising senior Maverick Antcliff shot a round-two 65 (-5) at the 2015 U.S. Amateur at Olympia Fields Country Club in Olympia Fields, Ill, and advanced to match play sitting tied for sixth overall at three-under par.
The field began with 312 competitors for 36 holes of stroke play and it has been trimmed to the 64 low scorers who will compete in a match-play format beginning on Wednesday, August 18. Match play continues through to the 36-hole championship match on Sunday.
Antcliff kicked off the event with back-to-back birdies on holes one and two in round one. He carded two more thru the front nine and stroked another on the back nine to finish with a 72 (+2).
In round two, he was even-par after the first five holes when he notched his first birdie of the round on the par-four sixth hole. Things improved for the Jaguar as Antcliff stroked five birdies on the back nine – capping it off with one on 18 to end with a five-under 65.
Check out the Q&A with Antcliff and the USGA below.
For full scoring from the U.S. Amateur by clicking here
Q&A with Maverick Antcliff on U.S. Amateur
Q. Let's talk about your round. On fire on that back side with a 31:
MAVERICK ANTCLIFF: Yeah, just made some good swings on the front nine, had a couple putts just shave the edges and stuff, just tried to stay patient, made good swings. The back side everybody knows is probably the easiest nine out here, so just had to stay patient and keep it in the fairway, give yourself good opportunities and just be patient until they fall.
Q. What was your mindset coming into this round because you were in pretty good shape coming into the round?
MAVERICK ANTCLIFF: Yeah, I mean, I shot 2-over yesterday. I got off to an average start and then had a good back nine, so I had some good momentum, and then I talked to my coach last night, got a few swing feels sorted out, and then just got off to a solid start, just like eight pars on the front and a birdie. I knew if I managed a few good swings on the back nine I could really get it going.
Q. Tell me about the birdies on 10 and 11 to really get you started on that back…
MAVERICK ANTCLIFF: 10 I hit a good drive just down the right side, hit 5-iron to about 30 feet, just playing safe, hit a great putt. I actually hit it in the left bunker on 11 and hit a nice pitching wedge out of there to about six feet up the hill, pretty straightforward.
Q. Even though you had a lot of birdies, was there a par or any particular putt that was a key to the round?
MAVERICK ANTCLIFF: Yeah, I made a good par putt on 4 to stay even, and I mean, obviously that hole today back into the wind, it's wet, great par. That really sort of got the momentum going, made a good swing on 5 to about 25 feet, and from there on it was pretty gettable. I was just happy to get through those first five well.
Q. What's your expectations obviously now that you're going to be in match play?
MAVERICK ANTCLIFF: Honestly just focus on how I played today and I'll go home, rest, do my stats, just work out what I need to do to get ready for tomorrow, talk to my coach, talk to my mom and dad, stuff like that.
Q. Have you played match play? Obviously a whole different ballgame than stroke play…
MAVERICK ANTCLIFF: Yeah, growing up in Australia, we play a lot of match play. Like if it's for club stuff, state stuff, yeah. I've played a lot of match play. It's been a few years, but it's always fun.
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