2002 Champion Rose Meets 2003 Runner-up Rose in Final

Maple Grove, Minn. – Ryan Moore, of Puyallup, Wash., the 2002 champion, and 2003 runner-up Dayton Rose, of Midwest City, Okla., will meet Saturday in the 36-hole final round of the 2004 U.S. Amateur Public Links Championship at Rush Creek Golf Club.

Ryan Mooreer flashes a grin after a near miss on the green. (Steven Gibbons/USGA)

In the semifinals, Moore, the 2004 NCAA individual champion, defeated Sunghoon Kang, 7 and 6, and Rose, who is the first player to reach the final in consecutive years since Michael Combs in 1990 and 1991, beat Evan Frederick, of Destin, Fla., 3 and 1.

“I don't look at as extra pressure,” Moore, 21, said of playing for a national championship and what has been a traditional invitation to the next Masters. “It's another great opportunity. It's a bonus at the end of the tunnel. It's wonderful. It's something I enjoy. It's worth fighting for.”

Rose, 21, meanwhile, has found a recipe for success again at the Public Links.

“I don't know,” Rose said about advancing to two consecutive finals. “I guess I have game for this kind of golf course. I hit the ball straight for most of the day. Hitting fairways definitely helps in a USGA event. I don't know what it is about this tournament but something feels good.”

In five rounds of match play, Moore has posted one eagle, 26 birdies and just five bogeys. His almost mechanical precision has stemmed from a reliable putter.

“The last four matches my putter has been great,” Moore said. “I figured something out a couple of nights ago on the putting green when no one was here. It's starting to feel great in my hands. I feel like I'm a threat from anywhere.”

Moore is attempting to become the eighth multiple winner of the Public Links. The last player to win at least two championships is David Berganio, who won in 1991 and 1993. Carl Kaufmann, the champion in 1927, 1928 and 1929, is the only three-time winner.

The UNLV senior-to-be will be playing in his third USGA final. In addition to the 2002 and 2004 Public Links, he also was runner-up in the 2000 Junior Amateur.

Dayton Rose watches his drive. (Steven Gibbons/USGA)

For Rose, driving distance has been a key to his scoring.

“For some reason, I'm timing it right this week,” Rose said of his increased distance off the tee. “I played great (Friday) for 12 holes but I made two errant swings and lost a couple of holes.”

The Oklahoma State rising senior is looking forward to his chance.

“He is a solid, solid player and as far as I'm concerned he's got the best pro prospects of any college golfers in the country,” Rose said of Moore . “It's what you come into these tournaments trying to do, find the guy who's playing the best and see if you can beat him.”

In the quarterfinals, Moore, who was a member of the 2003 USA Walker Cup squad, made five birdies in defeating Clay Ogden, 19, of West Point, Utah, 2 and 1 and Rose went 19 holes to defeat William Moore, 34, of Pacific Grove, Calif.

All quarterfinalists are exempt from qualifying for the 2005 Championship at Shaker Run Golf Club in Lebanon, Ohio . The finalists are also exempt for the 2004 U.S. Amateur in August.

The champion receives a gold medal and custody, for the ensuing year, of the James D. Standish Jr Cup, an exemption into the 2004 U.S. Amateur and, historically, an invitation to play at the next Masters Tournament, if still an amateur.

The U.S. Amateur Public Links is one of 13 national championships conducted annually by the United States Golf Association, 10 of which are strictly for amateurs.

Maple Grove, Minn. – Results from Friday's quarterfinal and semifinal rounds of match play at the 2004 U.S. Amateur Public Links played at Rush Creek Golf Club (7,132 yards, par 72):

Quarterfinal Round

Evan Frederick, Destin, Fla. (145) def. Will Claxton, Swainsboro, Ga. (142), 1 up

Dayton Rose, Midwest City, Okla. (147) def. William Moore, Pacific Grove, Calif. (146), 19 holes

Ryan Moore, Puyallup, Wash. (132) def. Clay Ogden, West Point, Utah (144), 2 and 1

Sunghoon Kang, Korea (140) def. Dirk Fennie, Greensboro, N.C. (144), 4 and 3

Semifinal Round

Rose def. Frederick, 3 and 1.

R. Moore def. Kang, 7 and 6

  Pairing for Saturday's 36-hole championship final round of match play at the 2004 U.S. Amateur Public Links played at Rush Creek Golf Club (7,132 yards, par 72):

Dayton Rose, Midwest City, Okla. (147) vs. Ryan Moore, Puyallup, Wash. (132)