ThornberytopsNo . 1Niemann
LOSANGELES-NCAAchampionBraden ThornberyeliminatedworldNo . 1-ranked JoaquinNiemannofChileintheopening roundofmatchplayintheU . S . Amateuron Wednesday .
Scotland ' sConnorSymealsobeatNo . 2-rankedMaverickMcNealyatRiviera CountryClubinthe117theditionofthe amateurchampionshipwithapairof excitingmatchesbetweentoptalents .
TheNo . 3-rankedThornberyfolowedup hisindividualNCAAtitleforOleMissand hisfourth-placefinishattheSt . Jude Classicwitha2-upvictoryinamatch betweenelites .
Afterstartinghisroundwithadouble bogey , Thornberysteadilygatheredsteam . Hesurgedaheadwithabirdieonthe13th andpunctuatedthewinwitha25-foot downhilbirdieputonthe18th .
ThornberyandNiemannbecamefriends whileplayingtogetherduringthefirsttwo roundsofstrokeplay . Theyfacedeach otherintheopeningroundonlybecause Thornberyendedupwithalow seedwhen hewasforcedintoaplayofTuesdayto qualify .
' It ' skindofunfortunatefortwoofthe higher-rankedplayerstoplayeachotherin thefirstround ,' Thornberysaid .' But you ' vegottodoitatsomepoint .'
Thornbery ' sspeedy , self-taughtswingand buccaneeringstylecontrastedsharplywith Niemann ' ssmoothgame . Neitherplayer tookaleadlargerthanoneholeuntilthe 18th .
' Weplayedtogetherforthreedays ,' Niemannsaid .' Hemadesomany up-and-downs , andhechippedinlikethree ( times ). Yeah , he ' sgotarealygoodshort game .'
ThornberywontheNCAAtitleandthe HaskinsAwardasthetopcolegeplayer earlierinthesummer , andhewilreturnto OleMissinthefaldespiteaSt . JudeClassic finishthatwouldhavemadehim over $ 200,000 .
McNealy , theStanfordstudentandformer worldamateurNo . 1 , lost2and1toSyme , withMcNealy ' sbogeyonthepar-316thhole makingthediferenceinatightmatch .
Whilethesetwocouldgohead-to-head againinthreeweeksintheWalkerCupat nearbyLosAngelesCountryClub , Symegot theearlyjumponhisrivalinawel-played afternoon .
' I veobviouslygotmassiverespectforhis game , andasaperson , he ' ssuchanice guy ,' Symesaid .' Iplayedverysolidand triednottogivehim much . Ialwaysthought hewasgoingtocomebackatme , whichhe did .'
TheU . S . Amateurisbeingplayedforthefirst timeatRiviera , the90-year-oldPacific Palisadesinstitution .
TheRoundof32beginsThursdaymorning . MatchplaycontinuesthroughSunday .
' Weplayedtogetherforthreedays ,' Niemannsaid .' Hemadesomany up-and-downs , andhechippedinlikethree ( times ). Yeah , he ' sgotarealygoodshort game .'