Osberg, McDermott advance to Phila. Amateur final
Jeff Osberg hit a shot to the back of the green on the 12th hole for the second time on the day. Earlier, in the quarterfinals of the 116th BMW Philadelphia Amateur Championship, his ensuing putt went about three feet right of the cup. But in his semifinal match Wednesday afternoon, Osberg adjusted.
Jeff Osberg hit a shot to the back of the green on the 12th hole for the second time on the day. Earlier, in the quarterfinals of the 116th BMW Philadelphia Amateur Championship, his ensuing putt went about three feet right of the cup. But in his semifinal match Wednesday afternoon, Osberg adjusted.
Once his putt got six feet from the hole, it stayed centered and went in. The shot was the first of four straight wins to end the match.
"Somehow I was able to roll one in," Osberg said.
Osberg, 31, defeated Stephen Seiden of Llanerch Country Club, 5 and 3, in the semifinals at Merion Golf Club. The Huntingdon Valley Country Club player will face Michael McDermott, 41, in the 36-hole final Saturday at 7:30 a.m.
McDermott won the championship in 2008 and 2013; Osberg won it in 2014.
"I definitely played my best golf of the week in both matches today," Osberg said. He beat Gregor Orlando, 3 and 1, in the quarterfinals.
Heading into the 15th with a four-hole lead over Seiden, Osberg needed one more to secure the win. After his drive landed in the short rough about 30 feet behind the hole, his chip shot essentially ended the match.
"I hit a really, really great [shot], probably my best chip maybe this year," Osberg said.
In the other semifinal, McDermott took down 2015 runner-up Michael Davis, 2 and 1. McDermott beat 2004 champion Scott Ehrlich in 20 holes in the quarterfinals.
After winning the first three holes on his home course, McDermott won just two holes over the final 15. He said he felt tired down the stretch against Davis after his Round of 16 and quarterfinal matches both went 20 holes.
"I did some things that I really didn't deserve," McDermott said, "but I managed to hit a miraculous shot when I needed to."
After McDermott's lead was cut to one on the 14th, he answered with an 85-yard chip shot on 15 that, he said, could have lost him the hole if it went five yards to the right or left. The ball landed on the green about 30 feet from the cup, and McDermott won the hole.
Although Davis made par on the 16th and 17th, McDermott matched his scores with solid shots to close out both and get the win.
"My short game's gotten a workout, and it's done its job the last couple days," McDermott said. ". . . Right now, I feel like if I can get it around the green, I've been pretty tidy with it."