Match play is officially underway at the 117th Oregon Amateur Championship, and the early rounds have delivered everything from dominant displays to bracket-busting upsets. With the field now narrowed to the quarterfinalists, here's a look back at the action-packed Rounds of 64, 32, and 16 from Riverside Golf & Country Club, where grit, shot-making, and momentum swings were on full display.
Men's Championship - Rounds of 64, 32, and 16
Top Seeds Make Their Mark, Then the Bracket Fights Back
In the Round of 64, stroke play medalist Bradley Smolinski and #2 seed Sam Ayotte both avoided the all-too-common curse of the top seeds, advancing in convincing fashion with 6&4 and 5&4 victories, respectively. The early results signaled that the top of the bracket was in safe hands, at least for the moment.
One of the most eye-catching results in the Round of 64 came from #60 seed Cohen Gladheim, who dispatched #5 seed Lucas Hughes in dominant fashion, 6&5. It was the lowest seed to advance in the round, and a clear reminder that seedings mean little once the match play format takes hold. Also advancing was reigning Oregon Mid-Amateur Champion Jonathan Lai, who survived a back-and-forth battle before going 1-up on the 17th hole with a clutch birdie to secure his spot in the Round of 32.
The Round of 32 is where the bracket truly turned on its head. #1 seed Bradley Smolinski fell to #33 seed Charles Hageman in one of the day's defining matches. Hageman was 1-down through 12 holes before reeling off wins on the 13th, 15th, and ultimately the 17th to secure a 2&1 victory, one of the bigger upsets of the early rounds. The #2 seed wasn't spared either, as Trey Tuyo, fresh off a 6&5 win in the Round of 64, carried his momentum forward to defeat Sam Ayotte 3&1, clearing the way for a wide-open bracket.
With both top seeds eliminated, the Round of 16 became a proving ground for the contenders stepping into the void. #3 seed TingWei Chang, now the top remaining seed, took care of business against Adam Harrington, cruising to a 3&2 victory after building a commanding 4-up lead through 12 holes. #6 seed Andy Yang was even more dominant, advancing with a 7&6 win without dropping a single hole, a statement performance that puts the rest of the quarterfinal field on notice.
Women's Championship - Rounds of 32 and 16
Highlight-Reel Moments and Bracket Shakeups
With the top seeds receiving a first-round bye, the Round of 32 still delivered plenty of drama. The shot of the tournament so far belongs to #22 seed Esha Reddy, who recorded a hole-in-one on the par-3 11th, a moment that electrified the grounds and helped propel her to a 2&1 victory over Maddie Dustin.
The closest match of the round came courtesy of #9 seed Kaylie Bae, who found herself 1-down heading into the 17th hole against #24 seed Avery Paul. Bae responded by winning the final two holes to secure a hard-fought 1-up victory and advance to the Round of 16.
The Round of 16 raised the stakes considerably. #1 seed Natalie Yen dropped the opening hole before settling in to win six holes on the way to a commanding 5&3 victory over #17 seed Madison Perry. #2 seed Alyssa Rigby was equally impressive, winning a remarkable eight holes in total to advance with a 5&4 victory over #18 seed Shantel Antonio. Both top seeds look sharp heading into the quarterfinals.
The biggest upset of the round belonged to #12 seed Hannah Wendorf, who knocked off #5 seed Hailey Lim after going 2-up through 13 holes and halving the next four to seal a 2&1 win. Wendorf's spot in the quarterfinals is well-earned and makes her one of the most intriguing draws remaining in the bracket.
Riverside Golf & Country Club: Championship-Caliber Conditions
As the competition intensifies, so do the conditions. The Riverside Golf & Country Club grounds crew continues to deliver a championship-caliber setup, with the greens running fast and the course playing firm and fair throughout the early rounds of match play. Their preparation has created a stage that rewards precision, creativity, and mental fortitude, everything match play demands.
On to the Quarterfinals
The field has been trimmed to eight on each side, and Friday's quarterfinals promise to deliver must-watch golf. Potential showers are in the forecast, but the competition heats up regardless of the weather. The quarterfinals and semifinals are both slated for Friday, setting the stage for the 36-hole championship matchup on Saturday.
With upsets already reshaping both brackets, former contenders surging, and top seeds still standing on the women's side, the road to the 117th Oregon Amateur Championship crown is only getting more exciting.
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