Aug. 23, 2007

SAN FRANCISCO - UNLV men's golf sophomore Eddie Olson won two matches on Thursday to reach the quarterfinals of the 2007 U.S. Amateur Championship being played at the Lake Course at the Olympic Club (par 70, 6,948 yards).

Olson, of Aptos, Calif., defeated Gene Elliott of West Des Moines, Iowa, 4 and 2, earlier in the day in the Upper Bracket's second round of match play (round of 32) to advance to the third round (round of 16).

Olson then defeated Shiwan Kim of Buena Park, Calif., in 19 holes to advance to Friday's quarterfinal round. Olson birdied the first extra hole to oust Kim, who won the 2004 U.S. Junior Amateur at the Olympic Club. Olson had lost to Kim earlier this summer at the California State Amateur.

"I wanted to get a little revenge from him," said Olson, who made a 9-footer for birdie on the 19th hole. Kim then missed his birdie chance from 5 feet, giving Olson the win.

Olson is scheduled to face Casey Clendenon of Houston, Texas on Friday. Clendenon defeated Jonathan Hodge of Strawberry Plains, Tenn., 2 and 1, in the second round and Andrew Putnam of University Place, Wash., 4 and 3, in the third round.

The only Rebel golfer to ever win the U.S. Amateur Championship was Ryan Moore in 2004.

Complete tournament results from the 2007 U.S. Amateur Championship may be found on the internet at www.usamateur.org