U.S. Amateur semifinal preview: What to expect…

U.S. Amateur semifinal preview: What to expect Saturday at Oakmont

OAKMONT, Pa. — Four players not only outlasted the loaded field of 312 of the world’s best male amateurs, but also weathered the storms this week outside Pittsburgh to punch their tickets to the semifinals of the 121st U.S. Amateur.

For the first time in three days, play wasn’t suspended due to dangerous weather at Oakmont Country Club, allowing the Rounds of 32, 16 and the quarterfinals to all be completed on Friday.

North Carolina’s Austin Greaser will square off against Texas’ Travis Vick at 2 p.m. ET, followed by Michigan State’s James Piot against North Florida’s Nick Gabrelcik at 2:20 p.m. ET.

With each match intriguing in its own way, here’s a preview of what to expect in Saturday’s semifinal showdowns.

Greaser vs. Vick

On paper this match couldn’t be closer.

Greaser has trailed for just three holes over four matches at Oakmont. He hasn’t played the 18th hole since his second round of stroke play. Vick has trailed just four holes and only one of his matches, a hard-fought quarterfinal against Brian Stark, went the full 18 holes.

Both players were all-conference selections as sophomores last season, and each has kept the ball rolling this summer. Greaser was a semifinalist two weeks ago at the Western Amateur, while Vick finished third at the Sunnehanna Amateur in June.

Piot vs. Gabrelcik

Unlike the first match, both players in this one had different roads to the semifinals.

Outside of his Round of 64 clash with Cameron Sisk, a 1-up win, Piot has cruised through match play with a pair of 4-and-3 wins in the Rounds of 64 and 32 and a 3-and-1 victory in the quarters. Gabrelcik is a bit more battle-tested this week, with three of his four bouts going the full 18. The match that didn’t? A 2-and-1 grind against Western Amateur champion Michael Thorbjornsen, the player many picked as the favorite this week.

Despite the close calls, Gabrelcik has been in control of his matches and hasn’t needed to mount a late comeback, nor has Piot. Expect another close one.