Aug. 20, 2015

OLYMPIA FIELDS, Ill. – South Carolina senior Matt NeSmith lost his match to SMU’s Bryson DeChambeau, 5 and 4, in the round of 32 at the 115th U.S. Amateur Championship on Thursday at Olympia Fields Country Club’s North Course.

After DeChambeau won six of the first eight holes to make the turn with a 6 up lead, NeSmith won his first hole with a birdie on No. 10 while DeChambeau made par. DeChambeau regained his 6 up lead with a birdie on No. 11. The golfers halved the 12th before NeSmith won No. 13 with a par to reduce DeChambeau’s lead to 5 up. However, NeSmith was unable to extend the match as the golfers halved No. 14 to send DeChambeau on to the third round with a 5 and 4 win.

NeSmith and fellow Gamecock senior Sean Kelly were among 312 golfers who qualified for this year’s championship. NeSmith earned his way into match play with a tie for eighth finish in stroke play with a total of 138 (-2). Kelly narrowly missed making match play as he finished tied for 55th with a total of 143 (+3) and lost in a playoff for the last 10 match play spots up for grabs.

NeSmith, Kelly and the rest of the Gamecocks open the 2015-16 season on Sept. 11 at the Carpet Capital Collegiate. The 54-hole event will be contested at The Farm Golf Club in Rocky Face, Ga.