NeSmith, Murphy Qualify for US Amateur Championship

July 8, 2014

BLYTHEWOOD, S.C. — South Carolina junior Matt NeSmith and senior Will Murphy qualified for the 114th U.S. Amateur Championship by finishing first and second, respectively, at a sectional qualifier on Tuesday afternoon at Columbia Country Club.

NeSmith fired a final-round 64 (-7) to win the qualifier with a 36-hole total of 130 (-12). Murphy posted a 65 (-6) to finish runner-up with a total of 133 (-9). Five golfers out of the field of 134 earned a spot in this year’s U.S. Amateur.

Carolina sophomore Ben Dietrich tied for 17th at the qualifier with a total of 141 (-1), and junior Will Starke tied for 21st with a total of 142 (E).

A native of North Augusta, S.C., NeSmith earns his second-straight trip to the U.S. Amateur Championship. Murphy, a native of Columbia, S.C., will be making his first appearance as he continues his successful summer, which includes a win at the prestigious Sunnehanna Amateur and top-10 finishes at the Palmetto Amateur and Northeast Amateur. NeSmith also finished in the top 10 at the Palmetto Amateur, tying for third place.

The U.S. Amateur Championship will be held Aug. 11-17 at The Atlanta Athletic Club in Johns Creek, Ga. A total of 312 golfers will play 18 holes of stroke play on Aug. 11-12. The field will then be cut to the low 64 scorers for six rounds of match play, which begins on Aug. 13.