Clemson, S.C.—Rasmus Neergaard-Petersen defeated Clemson senior Turk Pettit in the round of 16 in match play at the Western Amateur at Crook Stick Golf Club in Carmel, IN on Friday. Pettit had reached the 16-player match play of the national event for the second straight year before dropping a 2 &1 decision to the native of Sweden who plays golf for Oklahoma State.
Pettit shot a 282 during the 72-hole stroke play qualifier, tied for seventh in the field of 156 players. He was the eighth seed for match play and Petersen was the ninth seed.
The match was close throughout with neither player holding more than a 2-up lead. Neergaard-Petersen won the sixth and eighth holes and had a 2-up lead at the turn. Pettit won the 525-yard #11 with a birdie four. Both players made birdie on the par five 15th hole.
Neergaard-Petersen took a commanding lead with a birdie on the 16th hole and then closed out the match on the par three 17th hole when both players made par. Neergaard-Petersen then won his quarterfinal match in the afternoon over Austin Hill. Hill had earlier upset the top seed to reach the second round.
Pettit, who reached the quarterfinals of match play at the North-South Amateur at Pinehurst earlier this summer, will head to Oregon next week to compete in the United States Amateur at Bandon Dunes. He will be joined there by Clemson teammate Jacob Bridgeman. A third Clemson Tiger, Colby Patton, is an alternate for the event.
