LOS ANGELES: Doug Ghim advanced to the semifinals of the US Amateur on Friday with a 2-and-1 victory over Scotland’s Connor Syme.
Tommy Humphrey also advanced with a 1-up victory over Taiwan’s Chun An Yu. Doc Redman beat Australia’s Travis Smyth 1 up, and Mark Lawrence Jr. finished off Dawson Armstrong 3 and 2 to complete an all-American final four at Riviera Country Club.
Humphrey, who plays at Vanderbilt, could be playing his way into a spot on the US Walker Cup team in three weeks with an impressive week at the Amateur. He advanced by rallying to take the lead on the back nine before holding off a strong challenge from Yu, an Arizona State sophomore.
Ghim, the reigning Big 12 Player of the Year at Texas, never trailed in his match with Syme, who had been on a strong run. Ghim took charge when he bogeyed the 16th, yet still won the hole when Syme double-bogeyed it.
“This golf course is so demanding, and the conditions are getting harder every day,” Ghim said. “You just can’t slip up, because you know once you do, your opponent is going to take advantage of it. There are nerves for sure, but everyone is feeling them. I’m more than happy to feel those nerves, because that means I’m doing something right.”
Redman, a 19-year-old from Clemson, trailed Smyth by two holes with six to go, but Redman rallied and finally advanced when his Australian opponent bogeyed the 18th. Smyth had reached the quarterfinals by knocking off No. 3-ranked Braden Thornberry and 12th-ranked Will Zalatoris in back-to-back matches Thursday.
Lawrence, who plays at Virginia Tech, had the smoothest quarterfinal victory, winning four of seven holes after the turn to finish off Armstrong.
Ghim will face Humphrey, while Redman will meet Lawrence in match play Saturday.
Ghim, Humphrey, Redman, Lawrence into US Amateur semifinals
Ghim, Humphrey, Redman, Lawrence into US Amateur semifinals
Rodrygo’s winner lifts Real Madrid past Alaves to end losing streak
- The victory keeps Real second in the standings on 39 points, four adrift of Barcelona, while Alaves are 12th on 18 points
VITORIA-GASTEIZ, Spain: Rodrygo secured Real Madrid a crucial 2-1 victory over Deportivo Alaves on Sunday in LaLiga, ending a dismal run of form and keeping them within four points of leaders Barcelona.
Real, under pressure after two straight losses in all competitions, broke the deadlock through Kylian Mbappe’s stunning first-half strike.
However, a resilient Alaves levelled in the 68th minute through Carlos Vicente. The visitors restored their lead eight minutes later, courtesy of a counter-attack led by Vinicius Jr, whose assist was converted by Rodrygo.
The victory keeps Real second in the standings on 39 points, four adrift of Barcelona, while Alaves are 12th on 18 points.
The narrow triumph in the Basque Country provided manager Xabi Alonso with much-needed breathing space after a run of two wins from their previous eight matches across all competitions.
Sunday’s victory demonstrated Real’s resilience and ongoing weaknesses. Despite taking a 24th-minute lead through Mbappe’s spectacular strike, they found themselves outplayed by an Alaves side roared on by a sold-out Mendizorrotza stadium.
Mbappe had opened the scoring in trademark fashion after Jude Bellingham threaded a long pass to the French forward, who ran down the left channel before cutting inside and unleashing a bullet strike into the top corner from the edge of the box.
Despite Real’s early lead, Alaves grew dominant as the first half progressed. The hosts pressured Real’s makeshift defense, which featured 19-year-old academy graduate Victor Valdepenas in his senior debut at left back.
Alaves’ pressure was eventually rewarded in the 68th minute when substitute Vicente, introduced moments earlier, latched onto Antonio Blanco’s long ball and surged past Real’s high defensive line to finish into the top corner.
Initially flagged offside, Vicente’s goal was awarded after a VAR review confirmed the forward had timed his run perfectly.
Real’s winner came as Vinicius wrestled past a defender on the left flank before driving into the penalty area and delivering a low cross, finding Rodrygo, who slid in to steer the ball home from close range.
“It was a tough, very competitive match,” Alonso told a press conference.
“We started well and took the lead, but then we lost control and, as a result, we didn’t finish well. We had chances in the second half, but we conceded from the only mistake Valdepenas made and Carlos Vicente took advantage of that, after a great pass.
“But the team continued to fight hard, battling it out in a difficult stadium against a very intense opponent. That second goal gave us the three points and we’re leaving here very happy.”
