Connor Syme only Scot to qualify for  US 

Amateur Championship match-play

Connor Syme (Drumoig) was the only Scot to qualify for the match-play stages of the United States Amateur Championship at Oakland Hills Country Club, Michigan.

Connor, pictured, shot a pair of 70s to be tied 30th on 140 among the 64 who will advance after a 23-man play-off on 142 for the last eight places.
It is the lowest cut mark since the stroke-play eliminator was introduced in 1979.
Syme will play Dylan Meyer (USA) in the first round.
Ewen Ferguson (72-71 for 143) and England's Jack Singh Brar (71-72) missed out by one stroke from being involved in a 23-man play-off for the final eight spots. They all totalled 142 in the stroke-play eliminator.
Robert MacIntyre, from Glencruitten, well placed after an opening 68, slumped to a 76 in the second round and his total of 144 was never going to make it, so high is the standard of play.
Grant Forrest (Craigielaw) had a disappointing two rounds of 73 and 75 for 148.
The qualifiers included:
par 140 (2x70)
137 Scott Gregory (England) 69 68 (T6)
138 Sam Horsfield (England) 66 72 (T11)
140 Connor Syme (Scotland) 70 70 (T30)
141 Jack Hume (Ireland) 72 69 (T41)

IN PLAY-OFF:
142 David Boote (Wales) 70 72, Bradley Moore (England) 71 71.

DID NOT QUALIFY
143 Jack Singh Brar (England) 71 72, Ewen Ferguson (Scotland) 72 71
144 Robert MacIntyre (Scotland) 68 76
148 Grant Forrest (Scotland) 73 75.    

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Smalley is leading qualifier for US Amateur match-play stages

NEWS RELEASE FROM DUKE UNIVERSITY

BLOOMFIELD HILLS, Michigan – Duke University rising sophomore Alex Smalley rolled in a par putt on the 18th hole Tuesday evening to secure a one-stroke victory in the stroke-play portion of the 116th U.S. Amateur Championship at Oakland Hills Country Club.

The Wake Forest, North Carolina native fired a final-round 68 (-2) on the strength of five birdies. With his father, Terry, on the bag, he finished with a total of 133 (-7) to post the second-lowest 36-hole score in U.S. Amateur Championship history.

“I’m kind of shaking a little bit still,” Smalley said. “It’s a great honour to be medallist. Coming in, I just wanted to make match play, so taking home medalist honors really means a lot to me. I’ve just got to keep playing the way I’m playing and then things will go from there.”

Smalley began the day in a second-place tie, one stroke off the lead. He quickly made up that margin and more with birdies on two of his first three holes en route to a three-under, bogey-free front nine.

“I just got off to a good start, had three birdies on the front nine, and then just kind of kept it going,” Smalley said. “I didn’t miss very many greens today. I just hit the ball solid all the way around.” 

After a birdie on 10 got Smalley’s back nine off to a good start, the decisive stroke proved to come from a timely birdie on No. 15. Following bogeys on Nos. 16 and 17, Smalley calmly recorded a par on the 36th hole of the medal round to clinch the medal.

Smalley was one of eight players in the field to shoot under par in both rounds of the stroke play competition, starting the tournament with a sparkling 65 (-5) Monday on the North Course before capping the victory with Tuesday’s 68 (-2) on the South Course. 

“We’re starting all over again basically,” Smalley said. “We’re starting match play, so I have to come out and play like I did the past two days. I just have to take it one match at a time. Match play is different. You can be more aggressive.”

SIXTY-FOUR QUALIFY FOR MATCH-PLAY
There will be a play-off between the 23 players who finished on 142. They are playing off for the last eight places in the match-play.

On Wednesday, match play begins with the round of 64 and continues until the championship match on Sunday, Aug. 21. Live scoring is available at USGA.org. Wednesday’s match play action will also be televised from 3-6 p.m. ET on Fox Sports 1.