Salinda crashes into US Amateur semis

MANILA, Philippines — Isaiah Salinda moved two wins away from becoming the first Filipino to win the US Amateur, edging Will Gordon of Davidson, North Carolina, 2 and 1, and barging into the semifinals of one of the world’s premier amateur championships at the Pebble Beach Golf Links in California Friday.

The Stanford U senior faces Devon Bling of Ridgecrest, California in the Final Four after the UCLA sophomore nipped Mississippi’s Davis Riley, 1-up. The other semis pits Texas teen Cole Hammer and Norway’s Viktor Hovland.

“I’m very excited,” said Salinda when asked of his expectations after making it to the semis of the elite event in his very first USGA tournament. He is vying to become the third Cardinal to win the US Amateur, joining Tiger Woods (1994-95-96) and Lawson Little (1935-36).

“Things are just together in all parts of my game for the last month or so,” said Salinda. “I’m just getting mentally tougher. I’ve never been in this position before.”

The 21-year-old Salinda made it to the event through the Cincinnati qualifier and sustained the form that netted him the Pacific Coast Amateur crown last month. He tied for 24th in the 36-hole stroke play elims with a 144 from 68-76 cards then routed Ohio’s Will Grimmer, 6 and 5, in the first round of the knockout phase.

The South San Francisco, California resident then scored another 5 and 4 rout of South Carolina’s Trevor Philips in the Round of 32, then rallied from 2-down after 10 holes to foil 2016 US Mid-Amateur champion Stewart Hagestad, 1-up, on three birdies in the last eight holes.