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| Casey Watabu smiles with the U.S. Amateur Public Links trophy after winning the 2006 championship at Gold Mountain Golf Club Saturday. (Robert Walker/USGA) |
Watabu Wins The 2006 U.S. Amateur Public Links
Bremerton, Wash. – Casey Watabu, 22, of Kapaa, Hawaii, recorded a 4-and-3 victory over Anthony Kim, 21, of Traverse City, Mich., to win the 81st U.S. Amateur Public Links Championship, which concluded Saturday at the par-72, 7,061-yard Gold Mountain Golf Club.
Watabu took a 1-up lead when Kim was unable to get up and down after missing the green at the par-3 fifth hole, and would never trail again. The lead remained 1 up until the par-3 12th hole, when Kim again missed the green and left a 25-yard chip 12 feet short of the hole. He two-putted from there and Watabu was able to get up and down from short of the green for par.
At the par-4 13th hole, both players hit into the right rough off the tee. Kim’s second shot sailed over the green and he left his chip on the first cut above the green. His next chip barely missed the hole but sailed 14 feet past. Watabu drained an 18-foot par putt to win the hole and extend his lead to 3 up. Three holes later, on the par-3, 184-yard 16th, Kim missed a 3-foot par putt and Watabu two-putted from 35 feet to increase the edge to 4 up. 
A Look At The Quarterfinalists
2006 U.S. APL Fact Sheet
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U.S. Amateur Public Links PAR AND YARDAGE – The Olympic Course at Gold Mountain Golf Club will play at 7,061 yards and a par of 36-36—72. USGA COURSE RATING™ AND SLOPE RATING® — The USGA Course Rating for Gold Mountain Golf Club is 75.6; Slope Rating is 143. HOLE BY HOLE – Holes 1-9 will play at 3,604 yards and par 36 Holes 10-18 will play at 3,457 and par 36 ARCHITECT – The Olympic Course at Gold Mountain Golf Club was designed by John Harbottle III and opened in 1996. Gold Mountain Golf Club is owned by the city of Bremerton. WASHINGTON AND THE APL – Although Gold Mountain is hosting its first APL and first USGA championship, this is the fourth time the championship is being contested in Washington. The 1984 Amateur Public Links Championship was held at Indian Canyon Golf Club (Spokane); the 1953 championship was played at West Seattle Golf Club; and the 1967 event was played at Jefferson Park Golf Club (Seattle). THE FIELD – A total of 4,739 contestants entered the 2006 championship. The record of 6,300 was set in 1998. SCHEDULE OF PLAY – Monday and Tuesday, July 10-11 – Stroke-play qualifying, 18 holes, (field reduced to the lowest 64 players, who advance to match play).
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