Farlow, Ford, Grendahl and Lee Advance To

USGA Senior Amateur's Semifinals

Andover, Kan. – Sam Farlow, 60, of Birmingham, Ala., Frank Ford III, 55, of Charleston, S.C., Stu Grendahl, 56, of Mcfarland, Wis. and Stanford Lee, 55, Heber Springs, Ark., all won quarterfinal matches Wednesday at the 2007 USGA Senior Amateur Championship, being played at the 6,502-yard, par-71 Flint Hills National Golf Club.

Against Alistair Catto, 55, of South Hadley, Mass., Ford held a 2-up lead after 15 holes. Catto cut the deficit with a birdie on the 16th and squared the match when Ford hit into the water hazard on the 18th hole.

On the 19th, the par-5 first hole, Ford hit his tee shot to the middle of the fairway, while Catto’s tee shot found the right rough. He advanced the ball to well short of the green. Ford, 215 yards out, hit his 3-iron to the back of the green.

“I just can’t hit it any better than that under the circumstances,” said Ford, a veteran of 15 USGA championships who is playing his first USGA Senior Amateur.

After Catto two-putted from 25 feet, Ford made his 3-foot birdie putt to win the match.

Ford next faces Farlow, who had an easier time against 1972 U.S. Amateur champion Vinny Giles, 64, of Richmond, Va. Farlow, who was the equivalent of two under par during the match, never trailed and won the 12th, 13th and 15th holes to close out Giles, 4 and 3.

The win puts Farlow, who lost to eventual champion Mike Bell in the semifinals a year ago, another step closer to his first national title.

“You come here with the idea that you want to win,” said Farlow. “The idea of winning a USGA championship would be a dream come true for anybody. It’s something special.”

Lee also needed an extra hole to close out Logan Jackson, 57, of Winston Salem, N.C. Lee, who held a 2-up advantage after 12 holes, quickly found himself trailing after Jackson won three of the next four holes. Despite losing his lead, Lee didn’t panic.

“Once I got 1 down, I had a peace come over me, because I thought I couldn’t do any worse,” said Lee.

After Lee birdied the par-5 18th to square the match, it was on to the 19th, where Jackson missed a 5-footer for birdie that would have extended the match.

Lee’s semifinal opponent will be Grendahl, who eliminated 2007 British Senior Open Amateur champion Arthur Pierse of Ireland, 4 and 3.

Grendahl, who has won two matches in extra holes this week, fell behind quickly, losing the first hole to a birdie by Pierse, a 1983 Great Britain and Ireland Walker Cupper. But Grendahl came back to five of the next six holes to take control of the match en route to a 4-and-3 victory.

For Grendahl, the key to success has been hitting solid approach shots.

“It’s important,” said Grendahl, who is playing in his first USGA championship. “If you hit the ball close, it puts a lot of pressure on the other guy.”

With their quarterfinal victories, all four players earn an exemption into the 2008 U.S. Senior Open, providing they remain amateur.

The 2007 USGA Senior Amateur continues with the semifinal matches Wednesday afternoon. The championship concludes with the 18-hole final match Thursday.

The USGA Senior Amateur is one of 13 championships conducted annually by the United States Golf Association each year, 10 of which are strictly for amateurs.

Story written by Beth Murrison of USGA Media Relations. For questions or comments, contact her at bmurrison@usga.org.

Andover, Kan. – Results following Wednesday’s quarterfinal round of match play at the 2007 USGA Senior Amateur Championship at the 6,502-yard, par-71 Flint Hills National Golf Club:

Round of 8

Upper Bracket

Stu Grendahl, Mcfarland, Wis. (145) def. Arthur Pierse, Ireland (144), 4 and 3

Stanford Lee, Heber Springs, Ark. (146) def. Logan Jackson, Winston Salem, N.C. (144), 19 holes

Lower Bracket

Sam Farlow, Birmingham, Ala. (150) def. Vinny Giles, Richmond, Va. (149), 4 and 3

Frank Ford III, Charleston, S.C. (146) def. Alistair Catto, South Hadley, Mass. (147), 19 holes

Andover, Kan. – Pairings for Wednesday’s semifinal round of match play at the 2007 USGA Senior Amateur Championship at the 6,502-yard, par-71 Flint Hills National Golf Club:

Round of 4

Upper Bracket

2:00 p.m.          Stu Grendahl, Mcfarland, Wis. (145) vs. Stanford Lee, Heber Springs, Ark. (146)

Lower Bracket

2:15 p.m.          Sam Farlow, Birmingham, Ala. (150) vs. Frank Ford III, Charleston, S.C. (146)