Giebler eliminated in Missouri Amateur semifinals

Brevin Giebler dug himself an early hole and couldn't get out.

That didn't detract from his magical run on his home course during the 105th Missouri Amateur at Dalhousie Golf Club.

"It's been a great week," Giebler said.

Giebler's Cinderella week finally ended Saturday afternoon when the 36-year-old Cape Girardeau resident lost to University of Missouri product Nick Wilson 3 and 1 in the match-play semifinals.

That came after Giebler rolled past Jacob Fair 7 and 5 in Saturday morning's quarterfinal round.

LEFT: Nick Wilson of Columbia, Mo. watches his approach shot to the 15th green during his Missouri Amateur semifinal against Brevin Giebler. Wilson who recently completed his eligibility on the University of Missouri golf team, defeated Giebler 3 and 1 to move on to today’s finals. RIGHT: Giebler shakes hands with Jacob Fair of Monett, Mo., after defeating him 7 and 5 in the Missouri Amateur quarterfinals Saturday morning.

"I'm not disappointed at all. I played great all week," Giebler said.

Giebler, who previously had not won more than one match at a Missouri Amateur, did not claim any of the first seven holes against Wilson.

Giebler struggled early and Wilson did little wrong. The result was a 5-up lead after seven holes for Wilson who won Nos. 2, 4, 5, 6 and 7.

"I made a couple of mistakes early, and he took advantage of them," Giebler said. "It was hard to come back." Giebler hit into trees on the par-5 Nos. 2 and 7.

"The two par-5s on the front didn't help me," Giebler said.

Wilson, who completed his eligibility at Missouri this year, was elated to get a quick jump on Giebler.

"He's a good player," Wilson said. "It definitely helps getting an early lead."

Giebler battled back to make a match of it. He won Nos. 8 and 9 to pull within 3-down at the turn.

After the pair halved Nos. 10 and 11, Giebler won the par-4 No. 12 thanks to a second shot that came within a few feet of the hole. Wilson conceded Giebler's par and then missed his own par putt, allowing Giebler to cut the deficit to 2-down.

"I didn't give up. I kept my head in it," Giebler said. "I just got down too far too early. It was hard to play catchup."

Wilson came back to claim No. 13, winning his first hole since No. 7, and regaining a 3-up lead.

Giebler had some chances but couldn't get closer than 2-down, which he attained after a short birdie putt on the par-5 No. 15.

After they halved No. 16, Giebler faced the prospect of needing to win the final two holes to extend the match. He lost No. 17 to end his inspiring run.

"He's a good player, and he outplayed me today," Giebler said.

Wilson, rock-solid all match, played only two holes over par.

"I'm playing pretty good right now," Wilson said. "I felt like I was hitting all the shots I needed to keep the pressure on him."

Wilson also hit all the necessary shots earlier in the day during a tense 19-hole quarterfinal win over Missouri All-American Jace Long, his former college teammate.

"That's some of the best golf I've played," Wilson said.

Giebler, considerably older than Wilson, refused to blame fatigue following a grueling Friday that featured two narrow wins, including a 24-hole victory over Missouri golf team member Wilson Sundvold.

"I never got worn down," Giebler said. "Now, if I had to walk, that would have been a different story."

Giebler said he'll take away plenty of memories from one of the best golfing weeks of his life, including the 24-hole win, his stroke play title and his record 8-under-par 28 over the back nine during the final round of stroke play.

"My 24-hole match was unbelievable. I haven't had that much fun in a long time," Giebler said. "It's been a great week, and the support I got [from Dalhousie] was unbelievable."

Wilson will face defending champion Skip Berkmeyer in today's 36-hole final.

Berkmeyer slipped past Ryan Zech, a freshman on the Missouri golf team this year, in 19 holes in the semifinals.

Berkmeyer, from St. Louis, will attempt to join four other players as four-time winners of the Missouri Amateur.