Trent, Vilips fight on in Pinehurst

Aussie Jack Trent today launches his tee shot on the second hole of Pinehurst No.2. Photo: USGA

Two Aussies based in America stay behind the flag after another tumultuous American amateur day in Pinehurst.

Day three began with the completion of the delayed round two of battle game, ventured into a three-hour marathon play-off that shoe-horned 27 participants in the final three contest game participants and ended with a huge shock.

Because of all this, the Australian-based Karl Vilips from Florida and the Queens-based Jackland Trent in Nevada were high and went to the 32nd round tomorrow morning.

Vilips, 17, whose spectacular second round course record equal to 65 a day earlier gave him the No.22 seed, defeated Jansen Smith 2 & 1 in a tense battle at Pinehurst No.2.

The reigning Olympic Youth Champion was never led by the Texan, who twice came in eighth place before a gripping finish by Vilips saw him.

With winning a majority of holes, Vilips criticized hole 13-16, one to ensure that he remained alive in his third tilt on the most prestigious amateur crown of golf.

Trent, 20, a rising junior at the University of Las Vegas Nevada, has so far gone largely under the radar, but can struggle for future anonymity after bundling number 9 seed Ryan Gerard from nearby Raleigh.

The towering sociology major used all his nouse after staying behind early so as not to lose a hole after the fifth in an impressive 4 & 3 victory.

These victories were placed not long before the biggest upset of the week with number 1 seed and red-hot Brandon Wu 2-up dumped by fellow American Austin Squires.

Squires was previously the last man of the epic 27-man play-off to pinch the seed of No.64.

Squires made a par in the fourth hole of the play-off to eliminate the two remaining players, including New South Welshman Jordie Garner.

Garner had been stoic in making pars on the first and second holes, and then made a clutch sand, except for birdie on the third to stay alive, but a pulled ride to the 18th at Pinehurst No. 4 ultimately proved his undone to make.

His state teammate and No.16 seed Blake Windred was another who was the victim of an upset, who sent package 3 & 1 by the American John Pak.

Windred had been from three to five and seemed to be in control before Pak demonstrably handed in the longest extended piece of great golf on the No.2 course all week and played holes 6-17 four under and without a bogey.

"I am disappointed, but I played great golf today," said a cheerful Windred.

"I even shot par around this job and was still beaten.

"John just played golf very well. He would have beat most people today."

Earlier, Victorian David Micheluzzi, World No. 3 couldn't take the miracle he needed with one hole to complete his second round, with the playoff being missed by two strokes.

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