Sports

By Tom Robinson
Go Lackawanna sports correspondent

UPDATED 5:15 p.m.

Nicholas Reach of Moscow reached the semifinals of the 62nd United States Junior Amateur before being eliminated this afternoon in a 3 and 2 loss to Jay Hwang.

Hwang, a 16-year-old from San Diego, is a member at Torrey Pines, the site of the 2008 U.S. Open.

Reach and Hwang were tied through 11 holes before Hwang won three straight. After Reach rallied to win the 15th, Hwang won the 16th to clinch the victory.

Reach, 17, is going into his junior season at Scranton Prep where he finished 17th in the Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association state tournament last year.

Friday morning's victory was the fourth straight for Reach at the Trump National courses at Bedminster, N.J. He defeated Juan Luna of Colombia, 3 and 2, in the morning quarterfinals.

Reach and Luna were all square through 12 holes before Reach won three straight on two pars and a birdie 2 at the 150-yard 14th hole.

POSTED 12:45 p.m.

Nicholas Reach, a Scranton Prep golfer from Moscow, advanced to the semifinals of the 62nd United States Junior Amateur today with a 3 and 2 victory over Juan Luna of Colombia.

Reach is scheduled to be back on the Trump National New Course in Bedminster, N.J. at 1:30 this afternoon for a semifinal against Jay Hwang from San Diego.

Through four match-play rounds, Reach has been behind for just one hole. He is the only golfer among the four semifinalists who has not been extended to extra holes in any of his matches.

Reach and Luna were all square through 12 holes before Reach won three straight on two pars and a birdie 2 at the 150-yard 14th hole.

Reach finished 17th in the state high school championships last fall as a sophomore.