Indiana University Athletics
Marek Advances Into Quarterfinals at Public Links
7/15/2005 12:00:00 AM | Men's Golf
July 14, 2005
LEBANON, Ohio, - After winning his opening-round match on Wednesday, IU men's golfer Brad Marek carded a pair of victories on Thursday to advance to the quarterfinals of match play at the U.S. Amateur Public Links Championship. The senior knocked off former Florida standout Duke Butler, 4 and 3, and defeated BYU junior Nick Becker, 2 and 1, at the 6,966-yard, par-70 Shaker Run Golf Club.
Against Becker, Marek found himself 2 down through the first seven holes before mounting a charge that saw him win five of the next seven holes for a 3-up lead. Becker bogeyed the par-3 eighth and par-4 10th, while Marek carded pars to even the match for the first time since the tenth hole.
The Arlington Heights, Ill., native then took advantage of two more Becker bogeys at the par-4 12th and 13th holes to go 2 up and pushed his lead to 3 up with a birdie at the par-3 14th. Marek went on to end the match at the par-5 17th to garner a spot in the quarterfinals.
"I played pretty well my first two matches," Marek said. "All aspects of my game were working, especially my short game. The last match was a struggle at the start. I lost the rhythm I had from the morning but once I won the eighth hole, I knew I had chance to hang in there and come back. I found my rhythm on the back nine and was fortunate enough to get a 2 and 1 win."
In the morning match, Marek captured the first two holes and never trailed the rest of the way. He built his advantage to a match-high 5 up with a birdie on the par-3 eighth and maintained that mark until Butler aced the par-3 14th. However, both golfers recorded pars on the 15th, allowing Marek to close out the match and move on to the final 16.
"Brad is an outstanding player," Indiana head coach Mike Mayer said. "I'm not surprised he's doing this well. I spoke with him on Wednesday, and he seemed very optimistic and confident he could continue his good play."
On Friday, Marek will take on Wisconsin junior Garrett Jones at 8 a.m. EST. The winner of the match will face the winner of the Michelle Wie/Clay Ogden contest at approximately 12:45 p.m.
Former IU All-American Jeff Overton saw his run at the Championship come to an end with a 3 and 1 loss to Becker in the morning. After remaining all squared through the first four holes, Becker took the fifth hole and held Overton off to advance.
