NeSmith, Capps reach match play

South Carolina’s Matt NeSmith and Clemson’s Miller Capps advanced to the match-play competition that leads to the U.S. Amateur championship on Tuesday at Olympia Fields Country Club near Chicago.

Meanwhile, Caleb Proveaux, a senior at Gilbert High, has a chance to make match play. He made the turn at 1-over-par for the tournament and 2-under for the day before darkness halted play with about 50 players on the course. An early morning rain pushed tee times back 90 minutes.

Two others with Palmetto State connections, USC senior Sean Kelly and Clemson graduate Billy Kennerly, are tied for the final places in match play and likely will be part of a massive playoff on Wednesday morning. When darkness fell Tuesday, 23 players were tied for the final nine match-play spots.

The low 64 players after two rounds of stroke play move into match play that starts Wednesday.

NeSmith, who won the SEC Championship this year, followed an opening 65 with a 3-over-par 73 for a two-day total of 20-under 138 – good for a tie for ninth. Capps overcame four consecutive bogeys Tuesday en route to a 2-over 72 and a total of 142.

Kelly and Kennerly finished two rounds at 3-over 143 in the logjam at 56th place. Kelly played steady golf – two birdies, three bogeys – in shooting 71. Kennerly, who last week won the Canadian Amateur, experienced a wild round – six birdies, six bogeys and one double-bogey – en route to 72.

Zach Seabolt, who plays at Winthrop, missed the playoff by one stroke at 144. Other players with Palmetto State connections include: Carson Young (Pendleton/Clemson) and Henry Smart (Charleston) at 146; Todd White (Spartanburg) at 147; Andrew Orischak (Hilton Head Island) at 152; Nick Eberhardt (Lake Wylie/Winthrop) at 153; and Josh Lorenzetti (Blythewood/College of Charleston) at 155.

This story was originally published August 18, 2015 at 11:08 PM with the headline "NeSmith, Capps reach match play."