Steven Fox out, Matt Emery in match play at U.S. Amateur

photo Steven Fox
photo Matt Emery

Steven Fox, the 2012 U.S. Amateur champion, will not hold the Havemeyer Trophy any longer.

The recent University of Tennessee at Chattanooga golfer closed his second qualifying round for the 2013 U.S. Amateur by shooting 6 over par in his final six holes. That gave him a 4-over 74 and kept him out of the 64-man field of match play in Brookline, Mass.

Former Baylor School golfer and current Lee University senior Matt Emery is in the field, however. He tied for 27th with a second consecutive 71.

Fox, who won the championship last year in a playoff, shot a 2-over 72 on Monday at the host course, The Country Club at Brookline, and was in great shape through 12 holes Tuesday at companion course Charles River Country Club.

Neil Raymond of England and Brady Watt of Australia shared medalist honors at 6-under 134.

Emery's second round was at The Country Club. He made three bogeys with two birdies on what Lee coach John Maupin said "was probably the toughest course set-up he's seen."

"I think they could hold a U.S. Open here right now as hard as the course is playing," Emery said. "My first goal was to make it to the U.S. Am. My second goal was making it to match play. Whatever happens from here is just a bonus."

Emery, who's from Franklin, Tenn., will play Carr Vernon of Poplar Bluff, Mo., in the round of 64 today.

"I can't say enough about how proud I am of Matt," Maupin, who was on hand at Brookline, said in a Lee release. "Qualifying for match play at the U.S. Amateur is truly an amazing accomplishment. It's not often you get these kinds of opportunities, much less take advantage of them, but Matt has done that this week by proving himself against the best amateurs in the world. It's a testament to Matt's talent, hard work and determination."

Maupin said it would have been easy for Emery to play with a "happy to be here" approach, "but from the moment Matt got here he has played with a purpose. ... He told me on the way up here that he planned on being here longer than a couple of days, and I guess he wasn't kidding."

Said Emery: "I feel that I can play with everyone in the field when I'm on my game. I'm going to go out and have fun. I'm still thrilled to be here. I'm excited to compete for a national championship."

Contact David Uchiyama at duchiyama@timesfreepress.com or at 423-757-6484.

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