UCI’s Chin advances after winning on 2nd extra hole

AURORA, Colo. — John Chin, who will be a junior at UC Irvine in the fall, won his first round of match play Wednesday in the U.S. Amateur Public Links Championship at Murphy Creek Golf Course.

Chin, the 2008 Big West Conference Player of the Year, birdied the second extra hole to defeat Brandon Crick of McCook, Neb. Chin birdied his last three holes in the match.

Crick had a two-up lead through 14 holes, but Chin birdied the par-five 15th and the par-four 18th to force extra holes.

Both players recorded birdies on the first extra hole (par-four, 382-yard No. 1) before Chin won with a birdie on the par-four, 495-yard second hole, the 20th of the day between the two.

Chin faces Luke Morgan of Muldrow, Okla., in the round of 32 today. (PDT). The round of 16 will also be played today.

Chin was named Big West Conference Player of the Year in May after earning medalist honors in the Big West tournament, helping lead UCI to the title.

— From staff reports