Jeff Wilson on to Quarterfinals at U.S. Senior Amateur

Co-medalist Jeff Wilson of Fairfield will be joined in the quarterfinals of the 64th U.S. Senior Amateur Championship by four USGA champions after winning a pair of matches on Tuesday at Eugene Country Club.

Wilson, 55 and a longtime NCGA member, is vying to become the first medalist in 31 years to claim the title after posting Round-of-32 and Round-of-16 victories over Buddy Path (5 and 4) and Scott Sullivan (2 and 1), respectively, to reach the final eight.

Also registering two victories on Tuesday was NCGA member Chip Lutz, 63, of Reading, Pa., who’s a member via AmateurGolf.com.

Wilson held a precarious 1-up lead on Scott Sullivan going to the par-4 17th hole when Wilson’s tee shot landed in a tree but didn’t come down. During the five-minute search, a gust of wind came up and knocked the ball to the ground. The Northern Californian car dealer then hit his 56-degree wedge to 10 feet for a winning birdie.

“It was one of those days where I hung in there and didn’t have a whole lot,” said Wilson, who is one of two players to be the low amateur in the U.S. Open (2000) and U.S. Senior Open (2018). “It’s not fun when it’s happening. I was fortunate today to get by.”