SAN FRANCISCO – The son of two-time major champion John Daly was among 32 players who won the match Wednesday in the first round of a match with US amateurs, where five of the world’s top 10 amateurs rose at Olympic clubs.
Arkansas senior John Daly II had a scorecard that didn’t look like his famous father’s “The Wild Things” reputation. In one win over Cooppark Lacomb, Daly scored the 11th hole on a birdie, with the other 17 holes halved.
Auburn’s Jackson Kovrung, number one player in the world’s amateur rankings, was all square with Ryan Vaule until he got a par on the 16th on the 16th and closed his opponent with a two-putt birdie in par 5 and 17th. It was the only birdie of Coiven’s match.
World’s No. 2 amateur and Virginia senior Ben James won two wins over Parker Claxton, with fourth-place Preston Stout winning Penson Baddegett in fourth and third.
Two top 10 players lost in an extra hole. Tommy Morrison (No. 6) of Texas lost to 18-year-old Mason Howell when Morrison made a bogey on the par 5 17th hole with one up lead and then made a double bogey on the 19th hole. Filip Jakubcik (No. 5) lost to Eric Lee on 19 holes.
The other top ten players in the Amateur rankings were Jace Summy (No. 7) and Christianaan Maas (No. 9).
German Tim Wiedenmeier performed his biggest comeback. He lost five of the opening seven holes to Lead Glazerman, earning the final four holes for a 2 and 1 victory.
In one of the most roller coaster matches in the opening round, the son of a former British golf writer beat the stubborn son of the Ryder Cup.
Neil Shields Dodegan of Scotland birded the last two holes for one victory over Luke Poulter, a junior in Florida and son of Ian Poulter, as his father, Lawrence, was the Guardian’s longtime golf correspondent.
Donegan was among the 17 players who advanced from the 20-man playoffs Wednesday morning to decide the final 64 players in the game.