Jake Knapp into semifinals at Western Amateur

Jake Knapp described his long Friday of golf at the Western Amateur as “exhausting.”

But it was also sensational, or as he said, “spectacular,” and on Twitter he referred to an epic quarterfinal as “insane.”

The former Estancia High standout, who will be a UCLA senior, came out on top and advanced to Saturday’s semifinals at Rich Harvest Farms in Sugar Grove, Ill.

Knapp won the second-longest match in Western Amateur history (24 holes) with his quarterfinal victory against Texas junior Gavin Hall.

Knapp had the chance to end it on the first playoff hole, but missed on the opportunity. Hall missed on his chances to win on playoff holes 2, 3 and 4. Both golfers birdied the fifth playoff hole and Knapp ended it on the sixth.

During the morning matches, the Sweet 16, Knapp went up against a familiar foe in Charlie Danielson, a senior at Illinois.

“He beat me pretty bad at nationals [the NCAA tournament],” Knapp said during a phone interview. “It was motivation in the match. I was very happy to play so well.”

Knapp came up with his first hole-in-one during competition against Danielson, when he aced No. 3, 191 yards. He said he hit it with a seven-iron.

He also had five birdies on the front nine en route to a 3 and 2 victory over Danielson.

Knapp will face Aaron Wise, a sophomore at Oregon, in a semifinal Saturday morning.

“I didn’t play my best [Friday] afternoon,” Knapp said. “I hit the shots when I needed them. I hit the putts when I needed them. I think [Saturday] it’s the same gameplan: to go out there and be aggressive. Don’t allow myself to make the small mistakes that you can’t make in match play. What I’ve done so far has been working.”

— Steve Virgen