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.'