UCI’s Chin in final

AURORA, Colo. — As far as first impressions go, John Chin, an incoming junior for UC Irvine, is making a sensational one at the U.S. Amateur Public Links Championship.

Chin, who is playing in his first U.S. Amateur, won twice Friday at Murphy Creek Golf Course to advance to today’s 36-hole final against Jack Newman of Michigan State. Today’s final begins at 6 a.m., Pacific Standard Time.

Traditionally, the champion receives an invitation to the following year’s Masters and is exempt for the current year’s U.S. Amateur Championship.

“I will take it like I have nothing to lose,” Chin told USGA.org. “That’s what you do in match play.”

Chin, the 2008 Big West Conference Player of the Year, took the lead with a birdie on the par-four second hole and never trailed in defeating Jeff Dennis of Jacksonville, Fla., 4 and 3 in Friday morning’s quarterfinal.

Against David Johnson of Palm Bay, Fla., in Friday afternoon’s semifinal, Chin gained the lead for good with a par on the second hole and won 4 and 3. He closed out the match with an eagle on the par-five, 603-yard 15th hole.

Chin, who led UCI to the 2008 Big West championship, had seven birdies and an eagle in his two matches Friday. In his five matches at the tournament, he has played the par-five holes in 12-under par.

“When I am up a hole or up a couple of holes, I have to keep telling myself that it’s all square and that I am playing this guy and we are playing this hole as if the match was straight up,” Chin said of the fact he has not trailed in a match since the first round. “That mentality has helped me stay focused and do what I have to do to keep winning holes.”

Newman defeated Corey Nagy of Charlotte, N.C., in 24 holes in the quarterfinals and Cason Hammock of Columbus, Ga., 3 and 1 in the semifinals.

— From staff reports