Biddle Advances in U.S. Amateur after 'Spectacular' Match

looked back at the events of the day and was feeling mighty good about himself.

The St. Charles resident was asked about his future, in particular about his chances of winning a spot on the Walker Cup team. That, Biddle said, was a discussion for another day.

“I feel proud of myself,” Biddle said, after winning two matches and advancing to the round of 16 at the U.S. Amateur Championship at the Erin Hills Golf Course. “I’m really relaxed right now; I was pretty hyped up out there. I feel really good about my game. I feel like I have been getting a lot better for a long time.”

Biddle, who will be entering his sophomore year at Nevada-Las Vegas, opened the day with a 5 and 3 triumph over Marty Jeppensen II of Ypsilanti, MI.  He completed the day by beating Peter Williamson of Hanover, NH, 2-up. Biddle will face Kelly Kraft of Denton, TX in a match starting a 8:10 a.m. Friday.

Biddle, who said he had no experience in match play before this week, is quickly adapting to the differences. But his goal is to still score as low as possible.

“I want to shoot even par or better,” Biddle said.  “If he (his opponent) shoots four-under, that’s OK.”

Biddle had dominated his foe in his opening match, but that wasn’t the case in the afternoon.

“I got a little frustrated,” Biddle admitted. “I just decided to go back to what I was doing in stroke play, which was focusing on hitting fairway and green and give myself some good looks. Once I started doing that, I felt as if I was hitting the ball a lot better.”

Biddle was spectacular in his opening match, which started Wednesday afternoon but was suspended because of darkness.

Getting a boost with three birdies on the front nine, Biddle was 3-up. He added on to his score with a birdie on No. 10 and concluded the match on No. 15 with a birdie.

“It was a good day,” Biddle said in between matches Thursday. “I putted well and I kept the ball in the fairway.  I stayed patient, which you have to do on this course.”

He has been on quite a roll this week.  Biddle had the second best score of the tournament on Monday, shooting a 67 at Erin Hills. He finished with a three-under 67 at the Blue Mound Country Club in Wauwatosa Tuesday.

Although Erin Hills is playing a mammoth 7,760 yards, Biddle said he wasn’t intimidated by the length of the course.

“I been on courses that have played a lot longer,” Biddle said. “It is a long course, but a lot the 500 yard par-4s don’t play that long. If you hit the ball in the fairway, you will get a lot of roll.”