Crick Falls In Semifinals at U.S. Amateur Public Links Championship

Nebraska senior golfer Brandon Crick's stellar run at the 2009 U.S. Amateur Public Links Championship came to an end Friday evening, as Crick was defeated on the 18th hole in his semifinal match with Brad Benjamin at Jimmie Austin OU Golf Club in Norman, Okla.

Crick led by two holes after No. 8, but surrendered holes 9, 11 and 12 to fall 1 down. Crick evened the match back up with a birdie on the 13th hole while Benjamin bogied. Crick took the lead again on the 16th with a birdie, but lipped out a par putt on the 17th to surrender the hole to Benjamin, squareing the match. On the deciding par-5 18th hole, Benjamin hit his third shot to within five feet and tapped in for birdie, while Crick made par.  

Benjamin, a Memphis graduate, will take on Canadian Nick Taylor in the 36-hole final beginning at 7 a.m. on Saturday. Taylor, the medalist after two rounds of stroke play, has only trailed for a total of three holes in match play and has not had a match go 18 holes yet.