Chin and Newman advance to U.S. Amateur Public Links finale

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DENVER (AP) -- John Chin and Jack Newman advanced to the championship with semifinal victories Friday at the 83rd U.S. Amateur Public Links.

Chin, a Temecula, Calif., resident had the easier time getting to the championship. He beat David Johnson, of Palm Bay, Fla., 4 and 3 in the semifinals and won by the same score over Jeff Dennis of Jacksonville, Fla., in the quarterfinals.

"I got this far with consistent play," Chin said. "I hit a lot of greens and a lot of fairways."

In contrast, Johnson struggled getting to the green. Muffed wedge shots cost him the second and sixth holes. And he pitched a shot over the ninth green on a hole he eventually conceded and put Chin ahead 3-up.

Chin won the 13th hole with a 4-foot birdie putt and a hole later, the match ended when Johnson missed a short putt.

"John drives the ball farther than anyone I've played," Johnson said. "And he does well around the greens."

Newman beat Cason Hammock, of Columbus, Ga., winning 3 and 1 in the semifinals. He had won matches in 21 and 24 holes.

Newman of Des Moines, Iowa, led 3-up, but Hammock tied the match on the 15th hole.

"I made my share of pars and he came back with a flurry of birdies to tie it," Newman said. "I was fortunate that he hit a shot out of bounds on 16."

Newman cashed in on the mistake to take the lead by winning 16 with a bogey putt.

Newman needed 24 holes in his quarterfinal match to defeat Corey Nagy of Charlotte, N.C., 1-up. Newman sank a 3-foot, birdie putt on the No. 6 hole while Nagy missed from eight feet.

"I was fortunate in that match," said Newman, who played 21 holes in his third-round match play match to get into the quarterfinals. "I got up and down and he didn't."

In the other quarterfinal matches, Johnson beat Kyle Leach, Louisville, Ky., 5 and 4 and Hammock beat Randall Hutchison, Traverse City, Mich., 2 up.

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