Golf: DuBois’ run ends in round of 32

Usually playing steady golf in an event like the U.S. Senior Amateur and not making any mistakes is a recipe for advancing in match play.

That’s all Don DuBois was trying to do in the round of 32, Tuesday at Big Canyon Country Club.

Unfortunately the Newport Beach resident and member of the host site for the USGA Championship ran into a buzz saw in the form of Bryan Norton.

Norton, who is from Mission Hills, Kan., eliminated DuBois 4 and 2 with a blistering back nine where he made three consecutive birdies in addition to an eagle to close out the match.

“He is such a good player,” DuBois said. “He certainly showed that today. I knew I was going to have play well to beat him. I just didn’t do it.”

DuBois got behind early, three-putting the second hole to go down 1 and then watched Norton make a birdie on the fifth hole to double his lead in the match play format.

On holes 6 and 7, DuBois made birdie and squared the match and it was tied going into the ninth hole when DuBois made a critical mistake.

Norton hit his tee shot to the right and got a lucky break when his ball stayed in bounds and he was allowed a free drop. He hit his approach shot to 20 feet. DuBois hit his approach to about 25 feet but then three-putted to give the hole to Norton.

“I made a bad putt on 9,” DuBois said. “I three putted 2 and 9 and that was costly for me. I had been putting pretty well, but I missed some putts in the qualifier so I was a little raggedy.”

The mistake gave Norton some momentum and he took advantage of it. His approach shots on 10, 11 and 12 were no longer than 6 feet and he made all three putts for birdies and a 4 up lead.

“He was so close to the hole during that stretch,” DuBois said. “You let him off the mat and then he plays three great holes, you put yourself in bad position.”

DuBois battled back, taking the 13th hole with a 15-foot breaking putt for birdie.

“That was a good putt,” DuBois said. “It was a little bit of a curler and I got it to go in.”

On No. 14 one of the strongest parts of his game let him down. DuBois had a chip shot but couldn’t get it close and settled for a par.

“I just tugged my wedge,” DuBois said. “Usually that’s one of the best parts of my game. I could have gotten one back there. Then it could have been 2 down with four to go.”

Instead DuBois needed to win the next three holes just to square the match. On the Par 3 15th hole, DuBois found the left greenside bunker for the second consecutive day and couldn’t get up and down. Fortunately, Norton missed his par-saving putt and the match was extended.

Norton closed it out on the 16th hole in spectacular fashion. He was about 100 yards away on his third shot and his wedge flew past the hole about 10 feet and spun back into the cup for an eagle and the victory.

“There is nothing you can do on that,” DuBois said of the shot. “You just say ‘Good shot’ and shake his hand.”

Despite the loss, DuBois enjoyed his experience at the championship, his second in as many weeks. Last week he played in the U.S. Mid Amateur and lost in the first round of match play.

“It was a great week to have the USGA here at our club,” DuBois said. “It was nice for our members to see how the championship is prepared.”

The Senior Amateur had two rounds of competition Tuesday, the Round of 32 and then the Round of 16. Players that advanced to the quarterfinals will play Wednesday morning with the semifinals following in the afternoon. The championship match will take place Thursday.

One golfer that didn’t make it to the quarterfinals was medalist Alan Fadel. He lost in the Round of 32 and it extended the streak of the medalist not winning the championship. The last one to win both medalist and the event was John Richardson, father of Kemp Richardson of Laguna Niguel in 1987.