Aug. 21, 2002

BLOOMFIELD TOWNSHIP, Mich. - Kansas State's Aaron Watkins advanced to match play Tuesday at the 2002 U.S. Amateur Championship as the 314-player field was cut to 64.

The junior-to-be finished stroke play at 2-over-par 142 and will face Tulsa's Chris Noel in Wednesday's first round of match play. Noel carded a 36-hole total of even-par 140 to advance.

Watkins, who started all 12 tournaments for K-State as a sophomore, opened the championship with a 2-over 72 on the North Course at the Oakland Hills Country Club. In danger of not making the cut, which was eventually set at 3-over-par 143, the Mesa, Ariz., product charged back with a sparkling round Tuesday on the club's tougher South Course, shooting even-par to claim his spot in the round of 64.

Bryan Milberger, who recently completed his eligibility at K-State, was not as fortunate and just missed the cut. After carding a 1-over 71 during the first round, the native of Olathe, Kan., stumbled to a 74 on the North Course Tuesday, dropping out of contention.

Match play at the 2002 U.S. Amateur begins Wednesday on the South Course. The Championship runs through Sunday's 36-hole final match, with the winner earning a spot in next year's U.S. Open.

2002 U.S. Amateur
Scores following the second round of stroke play Tuesday at the U.S. Amateur, played at the 6,988-yard, par-70 South Course and the 6,618-yard, par-70 North Course at Oakland Hills Country Club.

Aaron Watkins, Mesa, Ariz., 72n-70s-142
Bryan Milberger, Olathe, Kan., 71s-74n-145