Shockwaves at Olympic: World No. 1 Koivun Out, Daly II Marches On at Olympic Club

The U.S. Amateur’s Round of 32 at The Olympic Club wasted no time in shaking up the bracket. The headline shock came when Max Herendeen eliminated World No. 1 Jackson Koivun, 3 & 2, punctuating a match in which Herendeen kept the pressure on from the opening holes. Koivun, a pre-tournament favorite and Walker Cup lock, never quite found the spark that carried him through stroke play.

Another big story unfolded when John Daly II took down No. 7 seed Nate Smith, 2 & 1. Daly, who turned heads with his strong stroke-play finish, continued to show a steady hand under match-play pressure, capitalizing on Smith’s late bogey to close the match on 17.

Several contenders delivered blowout victories that sent a clear message to the rest of the field. Eric Lee and Tyler Weaver each posted emphatic 6 & 5 wins, conserving energy for the afternoon’s Round of 16. Davis Johnson (5 & 3), Jimmy Abdo (4 & 3), and Daniel Svärd (4 & 3) also advanced with room to spare.

Not every match was decided early. Mason Howell edged Ben James in a 1-up nail-biter, securing his place in the next round with a clutch par at the last. One pairing, Tim Wiedemeyer vs. Josh Duangmanee, remained all square through 18 and headed for extra holes.

What It Means

Koivun’s departure clears a path in the top half of the bracket and injects fresh intrigue into the championship. Daly II’s confident play has turned him from an early storyline into a genuine contender, while Lee and Weaver’s dominant form suggests they could be difficult to stop as the matches tighten. With Olympic’s Lake Course firming up and the wind picking up, afternoon matches promise an even stiffer test.

Up Next — Round of 16

The afternoon session features Daly II, Lee, Weaver, Johnson, Svärd, and Herendeen all carrying momentum into their next matches. Every shot will be magnified as players chase a quarterfinal berth — and the dream of hoisting the Havemeyer Trophy on Sunday.

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