Victor Hovland to face Devon Bling in US Amateur Championship final
Saturday 18 August 2018 22:52, UK
Norway's Viktor Hovland will take on American Devon Bling in Sunday's US Amateur Championship final at Pebble Beach on Sunday.
Hovland, a junior at Oklahoma State, overcame Cole Hammer 3&2 in the semi-finals on a foggy morning after taking command on the back nine.
Hammer evened the match with a birdie on the par-four 11th hole before Hovland responded with five straight birdies to become the first Norwegian to reach the US Amateur final.
Hovland, the world No 5 amateur, had become the first player in 40 years to win consecutive matches at the US Amateur by at least seven holes when he beat Kristoffer Reitan and Austin Squires 7&6 in the previous two rounds.
Hammer, an 18-year-old from Texas and seeded two, reached the last four by defeating England's Alex Fitzpatrick, the 19-year-old younger brother of Ryder Cup player Matt Fitzpatrick, 3&2 on Friday.
UCLA sophomore Bling was stretched to the 18th hole for the fourth straight match before beating Stanford senior Isaiah Salinda of South San Francisco 1 up in an all-California match-up.
"I love feeling the pressure," Bling said. "I like feeling the pressure. I like being nervous out there and knowing that I've got to hit a good shot here, and I've got to make this putt. I love that feeling. I think it helps me focus a little bit more."
By advancing to the 36-hole final, Hovland and Bling qualified for next year's Masters and the US Open, which will also be played at Pebble Beach.
Watch the final via the red button on Sky Sports Golf from 9.30pm on Sunday.
