• US Open

17-year-old Hossler insists he's in it to win it

ESPN staff
June 17, 2012
Beau Hossler says he can win © Getty Images
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Seventeen-year-old amateur Beau Hossler has insisted he has the ability to win the US Open at Olympic Club on Sunday.

Hossler, a high school student, has been arguably the story of the tournament to date - becoming the youngest player ever to hold the outright lead at a US Open during Friday's second round, before keeping in contention at the top of the leaderboard with a round of 70 on Saturday.

Just four shots behind leaders Jim Furyk and Graeme McDowell heading into the final round, Hossler is not just aiming to be the low amateur - he is now also determined to be the outright winner.

When asked if he thought he could win the tournament, Hossler said: "Absolutely. There's not a doubt in my mind. Got to go out there and do everything right mentally and physically, but it's definitely out there for me."

He added: "It's still my goal [to win the low amateur], but I feel like I'm in contention to win the tournament; and I'm going to try and take advantage of it."

Hossler, who intends to graduate a year early before going to play collegiate golf at the University of Texas, believes avoiding dropping shots will be the key to his chances on Sunday.

"That's something I try to do. Not always successful with it, but the key out there is definitely staying away from the bogey train, because that can kill you," he noted.

"Obviously I'm not experienced in there, so I can't really talk about what it's going to be like, but I know from other tournaments that I feel pretty comfortable coming down the back nine when I'm in contention.

"So obviously it's a little bit different being the US Open, but I put myself in contention many a tournaments and have come through successfully."

Hossler would be following in some notable footsteps were he to win; Francis Ouimet - regarded as the father of American golf - is the youngest amateur to have ever won the US Open, winning at Brookline in 1913 aged 20.

The youngest ever US Open champion is John McDermott - who was 19 when he claimed the title in 1911. He went on to win again in 1912.

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