Ethan Fang advances from playoff to US Amateur quarterfinals

CHASKA, Minn. — One day after Ethan Fang had to survive a playoff, he won two games Thursday at Hazeltine National to reach the US Amateur quarterfinals with one of the world’s top 10 players remaining.

Fang, who transferred to Oklahoma State his freshman year, beat Zach Adam early and went on to win by 2 over France’s Bastien Amat.

Fang was part of a 14-man 11-place tournament to reach the event. He secured the final spot on Wednesday morning, then won his first round match that afternoon.

Next up is the quarterfinal match against Noah Kent, who won 4 and 2 over Garrett Engle. Kent is among three players who have not made it to the 18th hole in any of his three wins.

Spain’s Jose Luis Ballester, a senior at Arizona State who won last year’s European Amateur, is ranked No. 10 in the junior world and is the highest-ranked player remaining. Luke Clanton, the No. 1 player 1, eliminated in the second round.

Ballester advanced to the quarterfinals by defeating Christian Brand, 2 and 1, his third consecutive victory that ended on the 17th hole.

Ballester next plays Bobby Massa, who outlasted Canadian Ashton McCulloch in 23 holes, a match that has never been played with a lead of more than one hole.

Another Spanish player who reached the quarterfinals was Luis Masaveu, who defeated Thailand’s Phichaksn Maichon, 3 and 2. Masaveu was between 1 and 10 when he won four of the next five holes, three of them with birdies. Masaveu was among the four scholars who won this year’s British Open at Royal Troon.

Masaveu advanced to face Brendan Valdes, who beat Peter Fountain, 3 and 2.

Another player who has closed all three games before reaching 18th place is Jacob Modleski, who won 2 and 1 against Omar Morales. Modleski next faces Jackson Buchanan, who won the 18th hole over Tyler Mawhinney.

The quarterfinals are on Friday, followed by the semifinals on Saturday and the 36-hole championship match on Sunday.