Chatfield advances, Welch out at U.S. Amateur

Two Rhode Islanders – one native, one honorary - were among the 64 players left when match play started Wednesday at the U.S. Amateur.

Heading to Thursday, the percentage remains the same.

Former Classical High School All-Stater Patrick Welch and Wannamoisett’s Davis Chatfield – an Attleboro native – both earned spots into the top 64 after two great days of stroke play but now, only Chatfield is left.

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Chatfield, who plays at Notre Dame, got off to a quick start against 42-year old former U.S. Mid-Amateur champ Scott Harvey, and had to hold his breath at the finish.

He won two of the first three holes of the day, then went 3-up with a par on sixth hole at Bandon Dunes Golf Resort. Harvey got one back with a birdie on No. 9 and trailed by two at the turn, then cut the deficit in half with a win on No. 15.

Chatfield responded with a par on No. 16 while Harvey made bogey, but Harvey came up with a huge birdie on No. 17 to send the match down 18. Chatfield set himself up nicely playing the par-5 hole in three shots, then two-putted to close out the match, 1 up.

The Providence native ran into an unstoppable Andrew Kozan Wednesday. Kozan, who plays for Auburn University, won six of the first seven holes and was 3-under par in that span.

Welch came up with a birdie on No. 8 to cut the deficit to five, but Kozan made back-to-back birdies on Nos. 9 and 10 to go up seven with eight holes left. Welch won No. 11, then won Nos. 13 and 14 but lost 4 and 3 when both players made par on No. 15, a par 3.

Chatfield will try to reach the sweet 16 when he faces Sandy Scott, who’s from Scotland. They’ll tee off Thursday morning at 11:50 EST. If Chatfield wins, he’ll play in the quarterfinals immediately after.

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