Weaver & Fox in U.S. Amateur Final


Michael Weaver and Steven Fox will square off in Sunday's 36-hole championship match in the 112th U.S. Amateur at Cherry Hills Country Club south of Denver.

Weaver of Fresno, Calif., beat Justin Thomas 3 and 2 while Fox edged Weaver's teammate at the University of California, Brandon Hagy, by a 2-up margin.

Weaver won the par-4 first hole with a birdie to go 1-up and never fell behind throughout the match with Thomas, a 19-year-old from Goshen, Ky., who attends the University of Alabama. Through 11 holes Weaver was 5-up and then coasted home, closing out the match on the 16th hole with a birdie.

"The start was incredible," Weaver said. "It was awesome. First three birdies to start were great, get the momentum going in my favor. And I just kept hitting good shots and kept giving myself chances. I had chances on 4 and 5. Made a long putt on 8 and then a birdie on 10 and to get to 5 up through 10, that really helped me out a lot because I needed it. Justin came around a little bit and I slipped a little bit from 12 to 15 or so."

Fox, who beat the No. 1-ranked amateur in the world, Chris Williams, in the quarterfinals, and Hagy waged a tense battle that stayed all-square through eight holes. Hagy won the par 4 ninth with a par and stayed 1-up through 13, but Fox got things even on the 14th with a par and his par on the 15th gave him a lead he never lost.

"Today I played good, just like any other day," said Fox. "Got some putts to fall. My short game was good, once again, and I was just trying to - it was all-square or he was 1-up until 14, I believe. And I won that hole to go back to all-square. That's kind of where it turned. And then won the next hole. And had an eight footer on 16 to go dormie, but wasn't the best stroke, but luckily I got it done on 18."

Fox and Weaver will tee off in the championship match at 7:30 a.m. (MDT) Sunday.

For scoring details of the semifinal matches, visit http://www.usga.org/ChampEventScore.aspx?id=17179869326&year=2012&type=052.