Open hero  Paul Dunne reaches quarter-finals 

of US amateur championship

NEWS RELEASE FROM USGA

OLYMPIA FIELDS, Illinois – Ireland’s Paul Dunne, from Greystones, Co Wicklow, who shared the 54-hole lead in The Open Championship at St. Andrews, and United States Walker Cup Team member Bryson DeChambeau each won two matches Thursday and will meet in Friday's quarter-finals of the 2015 U.S. Amateur Championship at Olympia Fields Country Club’s North Course.

To advance to Friday’s quarter-finals, DeChambeau, 21, of Clovis, California defeated Walker Cup team-mate Maverick McNealy, of Portola Valley, California 3 and 2, in the Round of 16 after beating University of South Carolina All-American Matt NeSmith, 5 and 4, in the morning’s Round of 32.

Dunne, pictured, who became the first amateur to hold or share the 54-hole lead at The Open Championship since the legendary Bob Jones in 1927, defeated David Oraee of Greeley, Colorado, 3 and 2, in the Round of 16. In the morning, he topped Caleb Proveaux, of Lexington, S.C., 3 and 2.

“I didn't think I'd get the experience of playing in the final group of The Open, but it's something I'm grateful to have done,” said Dunne, a recent graduate of the University of Alabama-Birmingham who finished fifth at the NCAAs and earned All-American honours. 
“I knew I could shoot the scores I needed in order to play as well as I have. I just didn't know it would put me in the situations it has. But for the amateur stage, I know that I'm good enough that if I play well, I can compete in any amateur event.”

Dunne, 22, who accepted a special exemption into the championship from the USGA, assessed his quarter-final opponent: 
 “He does things a little differently to everyone else, but he obviously does it really well. He's got a great game. I'm sure it'll be a good match. It'll be a tough match, but I know if I do the things I can do and play my game that I'll have a good chance.”

The other quarterfinal match-ups are: 
Kenta Kinoshi, 21, of Japan, who once defeated Hideki Matsuyama in a Japanese amateur tournament, against Baylor University sophomore Matthew Perrine, 19, of Dallas
Derek Bard, 20, of New Hartford, New York against World No 1 Amateur  Jon Rahm, 20, of Spain; and 
Canada’s Austin James, 19, against Sean Crocker, 18, of Westlake Village, California, who holds American and Zimbabwean citizenship.
Sam Horsfield, the only Englishman to make it to the match-play stages lost in the second round.

RESULTS
SECOND ROUND
Kyle Mueller, Watkinsville, Georgia (143) def. Alex Burge, Bloomington, Illinois (141) 2 holes

Kenta Konishi, Japan (140) def. Thomas Detry, Belgium (140) at 19th.

Todd Mitchell, Bloomington, Illinois. (142) def. Ryan Ruffels, Australia (138), 3 and 2
Matthew Perrine, Austin, Texas (142) def. Brad Nurski, St. Joseph, Missouri (143), 2 and 1
Hunter Stewart, Lexington, Kentucky (143) def. Will Zalatoris, Plano, Texas (141), 3 and 1

Derek Bard, New Hartford, New York (142) def. Sepp Straka, Valdosta, Georgia. (138), 6 and 5

Jon Rahm, Spain (143) def. Cameron Young, Scarborough, New York (141), 7 and 6

Daniel Wetterich, Cincinnati, Ohio (142) def. Sam Horsfield, England (142), 2 and 1

David Oraee, Greeley, Colorado (134) def. David Cooke, Bolingbrook, Illinois. (141), 2 holes.

Paul Dunne, Co Wicklow, Ireland (140) def. Caleb Proveaux, Lexington, South Carolina (140), 3 and 2

Maverick McNealy, Portola Valley, California (142) def. Maverick Antcliff, Augusta, Georgia. (137), 5 and 4

Bryson DeChambeau, Clovis, Calif. (140) def. Matt NeSmith, North Augusta, South Carolina (138), 5 and 4

Jake Knapp, Costa Mesa, Calif. (135) def. Chelso Barrett, Surry, New Hampshire (141), 1 hole

Austin James, Canada (140) def. Denny McCarthy, Rockville, Maryland (142), 3 and 2

Robby Shelton, Wilmer, Ala. (137) def. Will Grimmer, Cincinnati, Ohio (141), 3 and 2
Sean Crocker, Westlake Village, California(140) def. Adam Ball, Glen Allen, Virginia (138), 3 and 1
THIRD ROUND
Konishi bt Mueller 2 holes.
Perrine bt Mitchell 4 and 3.
Bard bt Stewart 2 and 1.
Rahm bt Wetterich 3 and 1.
Dunne bt Grace 3 and 2.
DeChambeau bt McNealy 3 and 2.
James bt Knapp 2 and 1.
Crocker bt Shelton at 20th.