After winning quarterfinal and semifinal matches Wednesday at Shady Oaks Country Club.Buddy Marucci and George Zahringer has now moved into the final of Senior Amateur Championship.

“It’s good to be nervous again, and hit some great shots under pressure,” said the 56-year-old Marucci, from Villanova, Pa. “The key to match play is that you can’t be afraid to lose. But this is a big deal, and I’m excited about having a chance to win a national championship. It would be a dream come true.”

“My first goal this week was to try and make the semifinals so that I earned an exemption into next year’s U.S. Senior Open,” said Zahringer, who was granted a special exemption into the championship. “The key shot this afternoon was a great, cut 7-iron approach shot I hit into the 18th hole. I thought Randy would make that par putt, but it just slid by.”

Results from the semifinals of the U.S. Senior Amateur

SEMIFINALS
George Zahringer def. Randy Nichols     1 up
George Marucci Jr. def. Frank Ford III     2 up

QUARTERFINALS
Randy Nichols def. John Pallin     4 and 3
George Zahringer def. Joseph Keller     2 and 1
Frank Ford III def. Vinny Giles     1 up
George Marucci Jr. def. John Grace     3 and 2

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