The 2012 U.S. Amateur is at the halfway point at Cherry Hills Country Club, and Michael Weaver currently holds a 2-up lead over Steven Fox. Weaver was fantastic during a back-and-forth morning 18-hole session, but he squandered an opportunity on the 18th when he missed a four-foot par which would have put him 3-up.
Weaver, an amateur who plays collegiately at Cal, defeated Justin Thomas 3 and 2 during Saturday's semifinals to advance. Fox plays at Tennessee-Chattanooga and he came back from 1-down on the back nine to win his match against Brandon Hagy, 2-up. Both Weaver and Fox held on for playoff wins earlier in the week on Wednesday, and are now battling for what is arguably the second most prestigious championship handed out by the USGA.
Weaver held the lead for much of the morning session, holding at least a 1-up cushion during the inward nine. After Fox conceded on No. 16, Weaver entered the 17th 3-up, but he rinsed his approach shot and Fox capitalized with a four to take the hole. The missed putt on 18 would keep the 2-up advantage. As we saw last year when Kelly Kraft pulled off the upset of heavy favorite Patrick Cantlay, anything can happen over the final 18 holes.
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