Top-seed falls early at U.S. Amateur Public Links
7/16/2014 | by
see also: View results for U.S. Amateur Public Links, Sand Creek Station Golf Course
Follow live scoring updates as the Rounds of 32 and 16 are played Thursday at Sand Creek Station
by Jack Persons
NEWTON, Kan. (July 16, 2014) -- Four medalists entered the round of 64, and only three survived.
Co-medalist and one-seed Zane Thomas fell to 64-seed Joshua Lee at the U.S. Amateur Public Links on Wednesday, while Doug Ghim, Rico Hoey (pictured above), and Byron Meth all secured easy victories on their way to the round of 32.
Lee, a rising sophomore at Florida State, defied the odds on his way to a victory over Thomas. He chipped in on the third playoff hole to grab the 64th and final spot in match play on Tuesday, and then rode the momentum into a 1-up decision against Thomas to reach the round of 32.
“Anybody out here can beat anyone else on a given day,” said Lee in an interview with the USGA. “That’s what made yesterday so scary in the playoff, but it’s what makes this championship so exciting.”
Thomas’ three co-medalists had an easier time with their matches. Ghim defeated Ted Moon 3 & 2, Hoey took down Paul McClure 4 & 2, and Meth went 19 holes with Vinnie Murphy before notching the victory. None of the three players trailed in their matches on Wednesday.
Defending champion Jordan Niebrugge played much better on Wednesday compared to his two stroke play qualifying rounds. After taking the 52nd seed, he put on a clinic against Zecheng Dou, making six birdies and no bogeys on his way to a 4 & 2 win.
“I hit a lot of fairways and a lot of greens and kept the pressure on him,” Niebrugge told the USGA. “That’s how I want to play in match play.”
The round of 32 commences on Thursday morning, with the round of 16 set for the afternoon. Wednesday’s results and Thursday’s live scoring can be viewed at the link below.
Fo llow live scoring from the USGA »
Results: U.S. Amateur Public Links
| Place | Player | Location | Pts | Scores |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Win | San Diego, CA | 1000 | ||
| Runner-up | Arlington Heights, IL | 700 | ||
| Semifinals | Sterling, KS | 500 | ||
| Semifinals | Cypress, TX | 500 | ||
| Quarterfinals | Rancho Cucamonga, CA | 400 |
About the U.S. Amateur Public Links
The U.S. Amateur Public Links is one of 13 national championships conducted by the USGA. It is designed for players who do not have playing privileges at a private club. See USGA website for details and complete description of eligibility requirement...
Most Popular Articles
2025 PGA TOUR Q-School Guide: Sites, Scores, and Who Advanced
Dec 5, 2025Second Stage is complete and Final Stage awaits at Sawgrass — follow every Q-School leaderboard and the players still chasing
2025 LPGA TOUR Q-Series: Final Qualifying Stage FINAL SCORING
Dec 8, 2025Helen Briem earns medalist honors, 31 players headed to the LPGA next year
2025 PGA TOUR Q-School Final Stage: Ewart Leads Five New TOUR Card Winners
Dec 14, 2025A.J. Ewart topped Final Stage at TPC Sawgrass, leading five players who secured PGA TOUR membership for 2026.
Australian Open at Royal Melbourne: Preview, amateur bios, and how to watch
Nov 30, 2025Rory McIlroy headlines one of the championship's top fields in years - at least four amateurs will have their chance at glory
Luke Ringkamp Cruises to Rolex Tournament of Champions Title at TPC San Antonio
Nov 26, 2025One week after committing to Pepperdine, Luke Ringkamp won the Rolex Tournament of Champions by nine shots.