 "Photo: Copyright Robert Walker / USGA")
Wesley Bryan has competed in six United States Golf Association (USGA) events, but has never advanced further than he did last week at the U.S. Pub Links Championship in Norman, Okla.
The rising sophomore made it all the way to the quarterfinals at the Jimmie Austin OU Golf Club before falling on Friday to the world's top-ranked amateur, University of Washington junior Nick Taylor.
Before Taylor faced Bryan, the All-American from Abbotsford, British Columbia hadn't needed more than 14 holes to dispose of any previous opponent. Bryan took Taylor all the way to the 17th hole before falling 2 and 1.
"I had never played with him [Taylor] before, but I knew if I played my game and executed the way I thought I could execute, then I should have a legitimate chance of beating him," Bryan said. "He played really solid the whole day and didn't really make any mistakes. It's hard to beat a guy that's really good and on top of his game like that."
Bryan said he wasn't playing up to his potential in the match. The 19-year-old Chapin native made only one birdie and could never square the match after losing the fifth hole to Taylor.
"I didn't play too good," Bryan said. "I had my opportunities, but I really didn't take advantage of them."
After shooting a 1-over-par 143 in the stroke play portion of the event, Bryan qualified for match play as the ninth seed. In the first three rounds of match play, Bryan disposed of UNC grad Robert Riesen, Washington State signee Hank Frame and a earned a close 1-up win over Chris Polski of Eugene, Ore.
Through all the ups and downs of his week, Bryan had his father, George Bryan III, as his caddie. Bryan III competed in the 1999 PGA Championship and the 1982 and 1983 U.S. Amateurs.
"He caddied for me last year when I had a bit of success, too," Bryan said. "We just had a great time out there on the golf course."
Two weeks before competing in the Pub Links, Bryan took second place at the North & South Amateur Championship in Pinehurst, N.C. Bryan outlasted fellow Gamecock golfer Patrick Rada, 4 and 2, in the semifinals before falling to Stanford's David Chung, 4 and 3.
Before his high finish at Pinehurst, Bryan was the 21st-ranked amateur in the world. Couple that with an appearance in the quarterfinals of the Pub Links and Bryan is set for a possible top-10 ranking.
Bryan will now prepare for the U.S. Amateur Championship, which takes place Aug. 24-30 at Southern Hills Country Club in Tulsa, Okla. If he qualifies, Bryan will attempt to improve upon his second round exit at the 2008 Amateur.
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