Bryson DeChambeau Wins U.S. Amateur Championship

From SMU Athletics

OLYMPIA FIELDS, Ill. (SMU) --SMU's Bryson DeChambeau won the 115^th U.S. Amateur Championship, joining Tiger Woods, Phil Mickelson, Jack Nicklaus and Ryan Moore, as the only golfers to win the NCAA Individual Championship and the U.S. Amateur in the same year.

DeChambeau, who won the NCAA Championship in June, defeated Derek Bard in the 36-hole final round, 7 and 6, at the Olympia Fields Country Club. He is the fourth golfer from SMU to win the U.S. Amateur, the other three being Hank Kuenhe(1998), Colt Knost (2007) and Kelly Kraft (2011).

DeChambeau was very pleased to see his hard work being paid off.

"I never thought in my wildest dreams that I would be able to win this championship, and with all the dedication and hard work that I've put into making this possible, it's finally realized and I'm so excited and so honored to be everybody's champion, U.S. Amateur champion, " DeChambeau said to Fox Sports after receiving the Havemeyer trophy.

The U.S. Amateur final was a great end to DeChambeau's busy summer. Not only did he win the NCAA Individual Championship, but he also played in the U.S. Open and was named to the U.S. Walker Cup Team.

"Starting out with the NCAA win and then going and playing in a couple tour events with the big boys out there, it was an incredible experience," DeChambeau said.

The SMU senior was only 2-Up after the first 18 holes, but had a strong finish.  After DeChambeau lost the 19^th hole, following a bad tee shot, he began his roll, winning 6 of the final 11 holes and only dropping two.

During his stretch run, DeChambeau birdied four holes, and made an eagle on the 22^nd.

Through the first 18, DeChambeau played through rainy weather conditions, but managed to have a quick start, taking a 2-Up lead. Bard would rebound, and by the seventh hole, led 2-Up over DeChambeau.  

However, the Mustang senior would rally and go on to win five of the last 10 holes, only dropping one, to head into the final 18 of the U.S. Amateur at 2-Up.

It was a long week of play for DeChambeau, who qualified in the opening two rounds of stroke play in the No. 23 position. The Mustang was dominant throughout the week, opening the round of 64 with an 8 and 6 win over Robby Salomon.

He followed that up with a 5 and 4 win over Matt NeSmith in the round of 16, and a 3 and 2 victory over fellow Walker Cup teammate Maverick McNealy, to reach the quarterfinals. In the final eight, DeChambeau defeated Paul Dunne, 3 and 2.

In the semifinals, DeChambeau continued his stellar play, winning 4 and 3 over Sean Crocker to set up his final pairing with Bard.

With the victory, DeChambeau receives entry into the next U.S. Open, British Open and will be invited to play in The Masters.

SMU head coach Jason Enloe said that DeChambeau represented SMU well at the U.S. Amateur.

"The SMU golf family couldn't be more proud of Bryson and his accomplishments. He represents the university like the champion he is," Enloe said. 

For full coverage of today's U.S. Amateur, you can find it here. U.S. Amateur photos. Walker Cup Team announcement.