BLUFFTON, S.C. — Spencer Ralston's run in the U.S. Junior Amateur came to a gut-wrenching end Friday morning.
The Gainesville High senior fell to Andrew Orischak of Hilton Head, S.C., 1-down, in the round of 16. The pair was all square after two holes on Thursday before play was suspended for the day due to dangerous weather. It was a rough start for Ralston when they resumed Friday morning.
Orischak went 3-up over the first five holes when they resumed as Ralston bogeyed a pair of holes to go with a birdie by Orischak on No. 7. But Ralston finally found his rhythm. He won holes 9 and 11 to pull within 1-down before Orischak countered with a win at No. 12 to go back to 2-up.
They halved No. 13 and then Ralston evened the match winning Nos. 14 and 15 to set up a three hole showdown. They halved both 16 and 17 and then Ralston bogeyed 18 while Orischak was able to salvage par on the Par 4 finishing hole to win the match.
Ralston was the only Georgia player remaining in the tournament. He played his way into Thursday afternoon's round of 16 during match play at The Colleton River Plantation Club Dye Course, beating Trent Phillips 3 and 2 in the round of 32.
Ralston made his way into the round of 32 by defeating Matthew Ruel of Oldsmar, Fla., 2 and 1. Ralston shot 74-72 on Monday and Tuesday to finish tied for 31st and earn a spot in the 64-man match play portion.
