Aussie Smith US Amateur hopes end
BY Anthony Powter | US Mens Amateur Tour | 2009 US Amateur Championship | Matchplay Round Two | 29 Aug 2009
Australia’s Matt Smith has bowed out of the 2009 US Amateur being played at Southern Hills Country Club in Tulsa, Oklahoma.
Nico Geyger, the 13th seed from Chile, ended Smith’s hopes of progressing through to the top-16 with a 3&2 victory over the Texan based Aussie.
“I was a tight affair as the match was all-square through 8,” said Smith the 45th seed.
“The difference was that I missed a few putts and he was able to score birdies on the 9th and 11th. Overall, I’m pleased with how I competed at this US Amateur and it was an awesome experience for me.”
Smith returns this week to Texas Tech to resume his studies and get prepared for the beginning of the US collegiate series, which start in September.
“I’ll be using my results this week for motivation. Playing in a US Amateur is something that you must do. The level of competition is amazing, as is the challenge simply to qualify.”
With his immediate plans focused on the US collegiate series, Smith has also not discounted making a return back to Australia this summer to play some of the bigger amateur events.
“I really would like to play the Master of the Amateurs if I can,” says Smith.
“From what I hear from some of the Americans here, that’s a great event to play. It depends a lot upon getting some time off from college, but certainly I’d like to return and play some Aussie events later in the year.”
Smith qualified for this year’s US Amateur taking medalist honours at sectional qualification in Ralls Course in Texas. His experience at Southern Hills Country Club this week is one that he will certainly remember for a while as he leaves the championship with many positive feelings.
“Anyone who has advanced to the match play at the US Amateur, has has achieved a result in itself,” says Smith, who was awarded the 2006 Vardon Trophy for the top amateur golfer in New South Wales and secured three amateur tournaments in Australia winning the Yowani Open Amateur, Australian Capital Territory Open and the Cromer Bowl before moving to the US in 2007.
“The whole process is such a stern test and sure I would have liked to have progressed to the semi-finals and even made it through to the final, but there is next year and I looking forward after this year’s event to trying to qualify again.”
