Chianello Goes Back-To-Back At Oregon Amateur Championship
EUGENE, Ore. – Nick Chianello won the Oregon Amateur Championship for the second straight year, this time claiming the 104th version with a 4 and 3 win in Saturday’s 36-hole, match-play final.
Chianello, who just completed his Oregon State career, finished the 36-hole stroke-play qualifying in a tie for 13th place before reeling off six match-play victories, including one over incoming Oregon State freshman Kevin Murphy, to win the title.
A native of Gresham, Chianello shot a 5-over 71-77--148 in Monday and Tuesday’s stroke play at the par-72, 7,020-yard Eugene Country Club. He was the No. 15 seed in the 64-person match-play bracket and opened with a 2 and 1 win over Jake Wagner on Wednesday.
On Thursday, Chianello knocked out Samuel Mendez 2 and 1 in the round of 32 before disposing of Murphy 1 up with a birdie on the par-4 18th hole. He continued his hot play on Friday with a 1 up win over Bobby Monaco in the quarterfinals and a 1 up victory over Rak Cho in the semifinals.
In Saturday’s final against No. 1-seed Thomas Linn, Chianello jumped out to a commanding 9 up lead through 16 holes with the help of seven birdies and no bogeys. Linn cut the deficit to 7 down after the first 18 holes, and got it to 4 down through 23, but Chianello won the 24th, 25th and 26th holes, to increase his lead to 7 up. Linn won three of the next four holes, but the pair tied the next three to give Chianello the 4 and 3 win.
Chianello won the 103rd Oregon Amateur Championship at the Tualatin Country Club a year ago with a 4 and 3 victory over Tyler Falk in the finals.
After transferring to Oregon State from the University of Portland in 2010, Chianello completed his two-year career with the Beavers with a scoring average of 72.49, the third-lowest in school history. His best round at Oregon State was a 7-under 64 as a senior at the ASU Thunderbird Invitational when he won the individual title with an 11-under 64-68-70--202.
Other Oregon State golfers, current and former, who competed at the 104th Oregon Amateur Championship included Brian Jung (lost in quarterfinals), Nick Sherwood (lost in round of 32), Scott Kim (lost in round of 32) and Casey King (lost in round of 32).
Recap of Nick Chianello’s Week at 104th Oregon Amateur Championship
36-hole Stroke Play: 71-77--148 (+5, t-13)
Round of 64: Defeated Jake Wagner 2 and 1
Round of 32: Defeated Samuel Mendez 2 and 1
Round of 16: Defeated Kevin Murphy 1 up
Quarterfinals: Defeated Bobby Monaco 1 up
Semifinals: Defeated Rak Cho 1 up
Finals (36 holes): Defeated Thomas Linn 4 and 3
