Ziegler advances to match play at U.S. Amateur Championships
August 20, 2015 | Men's Golf
August 20, 2015
Golf Channel Article on Ziegler
OLYMPIA FIELDS, Ill. - UW assistant coach Robbie Ziegler had a 2-over 72-70--142 in the stroke play part of the U.S. Amateur Championship Tuesday to advance to the 64-person match play portion of America's oldest golf tournament being held at Olympia Fields Golf Course near Chicago.
Ziegler was all-square with Paul Dunne of Ireland through 15 holes before losing 2-up when Dunne took hole 16 with a par and later birdied 18. Dunne was one of the top amateur finishers at the 2015 British Open where he nearly made it to the final group on day four with with a share of the 54-hole lead at 6-under 69-69-66--204 before blowing up with a 78 on the final day to finish tied for 30th with a 282.
This was Ziegler's third appearance in the U.S. Am, but first since 2011. He joined UW sophomore-to-be Johnny Decker, who qualified by winning the U.S. Amateur Qualifier July 7 at the par 71 Weibring Golf Course in Normal, Illinois, with a 2-over par 71-73-144. Decker, from Verona, Wis., did not make it to match play missing the +3 cut after shooting 74-75--149.
Badger Coach Michael Burin said of his young protege, "I am so proud of Robbie and his play the last two days. It's so hard when you are coaching and you really don't play much golf. It's another positive step in our program and the national exposure that continues to grow."
This was the third year the Badgers have had a qualifier for the national amateur championships. Eddie Wajda advanced in 2013, and now graduated Jack Watson qualified in 2014. Wajda was an alternate this year as was UW recruit, Brett Robinson of Tustin, Calif.
Ziegler, a 2011 graduate of the University of Oregon, just completed his second season as Wisconsin's assistant coach. He was a member of the Ducks teams that qualified for three NCAA championships and advanced to the final four twice. The 2011 team ranked among the top 15 in the nation.
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