Williamson Advances to Round of 32 at USGA U.S. Amateur

ERIN, WIS. — Dartmouth men's golfer Peter Williamson (Hanover, N.H.) defeated Mackenzie Hughes, 1-up, on Thursday in the round of 64 at the U.S. Amateur Championship.

Williamson held a lead as large as 3-up during the match, but Hughes cut the lead to one with five holes to play at the Erin Hills golf course. Both players recorded a par on the 14th hole, but Williamson birdied the 15th to regain a 2-up lead. Hughes and Williamson both carded a par on the 16th to force Hughes to win the last two holes to extend the match. Hughes won the 17th after a Williamson bogey, but both players recorded a par on the lengthy 675-yard par-5 18th to secure Williamson the 1-up victory.

The match began on Wednesday with Hughes taking the first lead when he birdied the par-4 fifth and Williamson settled for par. On the sixth hole, Williamson squared the match with a par as Hughes recorded a bogey. Williamson took his first lead on the very next hole with a birdie on the par-5 seventh. He stretched his lead to 2-up on the 8th with a par, but again Hughes carded a bogey. It ended the day for the two with the round being suspended due to darkness.

The two players finished their last hole of the front nine when play resumed on Thursday with both carding a par. Williamson pushed his lead to 3-up on the 10th with another birdie. Hughes came right back and won two of the next three holes to provide the drama on the final holes.

Williamson's next opponent will be the second seed in the draw, Blake Biddle of St. Charles, Ill. Biddle won his opening match relatively easily, 5 and 4, over Marty Jeppesen II. The match is scheduled to start at 12:20 p.m. central time.

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