Marek falls in Public Links quarterfinals

In a span of just five days, IU men's golf might have found a new face in senior Brad Marek.\nMarek made an impressive run into the quarterfinals of the U.S. Amateur Public Links Championship in Lebanon, Ohio. Former All-American and recent IU graduate Jeff Overton saw his run end two rounds prior.\n"(Marek) played well -- hopefully he can take it into the college season," said Overton, IU's top all-time golfer and 2005's Big Ten Player of the Year. "I just don't think he's ever realized how good he is. Hopefully he can take over the one spot now."\nMarek began his run last Monday at the Shaker Run Golf Club tied for seventh place at an even-par 70. Tuesday's second-round score of 74 was good enough to tie him for 22nd place in the final round of stroke play.\nHe then began match play Wednesday with a 6 and 5 victory over Kyle Ramey of Paducah, Ky. Thursday saw him earn his spot in the quarterfinals with a morning victory over former University of Florida standout Duke Butler, and an afternoon victory over BYU junior Nick Becker. Marek then fell 4 and 3 in Friday's quarterfinals to Wisconsin junior Garret Jones.\n"I was pretty pleased with the way I played, especially stroke play," Marek said. "I didn't really play poorly (in the loss) -- (Jones) played really solid. I had a pretty decent chance to get back into it."\nHe said the experience will help him to improve in certain areas in his final collegiate season next year.\n"I think tournament match play is a lot about patience and controlling your emotions," he said. "I think I learned a lot about that."\nThe event received national attention because of 15-year-old golf prodigy Michelle Wie.\nWie fell in the quarterfinals to eventual-tournament champion Clay Ogden of West Point, Utah.\nIf Wie and Marek would have been victorious in quarterfinals play, the two would have faced off in the semifinals.\nOverton's early departure from the tournament spared the greens from being stained cream and crimson. If he defeated Becker, he and Marek would have squared off for a spot in the quarterfinals. Overton lost to Becker 3 and 1 Thursday morning.\n"(Becker) had a career day," Overton said.\nOverton's surprising early exit was not indicative of his strong early play in stroke competition. Overton began Monday in a tie for third at 1-under 69, making him just one of six players under par. He began Tuesday in search of a second stroke-play title. But He finished the day tied for fifth place with a 1-under 169 -- a score good enough to make him one of seven competitors under par in the 156-person event.\nBefore falling to Becker, Overton rolled past Nathan Colson of Milwaukee, Wis., 4 and 3 in the opening round of match play.\n"I played pretty well -- I shot over par for everything," Overton said. "It was fun -- I had a pretty good day. It was just a little bit disappointing"