Jack Wall (Met Golf Association)

The pair battled their way through four rounds of play before meeting each other in the championship match. Wall, the 15-seed, worked his way to the finals with a 4&3 win over 2-seeded Sam Goldenring, a 1 up win in the quarterfinals and a 5&3 win over 3-seeded Dawson Jones.

Sample kicked things off with an upset win over medalist Sam Bernstein in 19 holes during Friday’s Round of 16. Picking up two more wins (3&2, 1 up) the stage was set for the duo on Sunday.

The 36-hole marathon had plenty of parody with three lead changes. Wall pounced early, taking a 2 up lead through No. 5. Sample countered quickly with wins on holes 6, 7, and 9 to give himself a 1 up advantage at the quarter mark.

Sample would continue to press after a four-hole stalemate to kick off the first back nine. 3 down through 17, Wall began his comeback.

“I really liked the way I started, just consistent to start off right out of the gate,” Wall told the Metropolitan Golf Association. “I just made some solid pars and got my bearings, but then Luke really made a push over the last 13 holes [of the morning].”

Winning the 18th hole before the break, Wall went to work on the second 18.

He won the 22nd, and 23rd holes of the match to get it back to all square as the duo stood on the 24th tee. 2-up through 29, Wall began to put the match away with wins on holes 30, 32, and 34 en route to the 4&2 win.

“I think getting it back to 2 really gave me some confidence to come back out here and work hard and try and get it back,” Wall said.

Sample was a pesky out all week. He battled through a nine-hole playoff following the stroke-play round to earn the 16th and final spot before making his remarkable run to the championship match at Bethpage Black. Because of the run made by Sample, Wall can cherish his win a bit more.

“I think this one definitely means the most and is the biggest just because it’s such a great field of great amateurs in our area so I would rank it on the top of the list for sure,” said Wall. “Especially to do it here at Bethpage Black which has so much history and so many great winners like Brooks Koepka and all of them, it’s truly amazing and I’m very blessed to have done it here.” Thursday was the first time that Wall played the course, saying he sometimes plays better going into a course blind because he doesn't think of all the possible trouble. He fired a 1-over 72 on Thursday, taking the No. 15 seed into match play and on to victory.”

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