US Amateur qualifying: NCAA senior sets pace, defending champ struggles

Published Aug. 17, 2015 10:02 p.m. ET

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South Carolina senior Matt NeSmith shot a 5-under 65 on Monday on Olympia Fields' North Course to take the first-round lead in U.S. Amateur stroke-play qualifying.

NeSmith, from North Augusta, South Carolina, had six birdies and a bogey.

The top 64 after the second round Tuesday will advance to match play on the North Course.

Georgia senior Lee McCoy of Clarkesville, Georgia; former Iowa player Nathan Yankovich of Blacklick, Ohio; Australia's Ryan Ruffels; and Japan's Kenta Konishi were a stroke back. Ruffels and Konishi opened on the North Course, and McCoy and Yankovich played the South Course.

Defending champion Gunn Yang of South Korea was tied for 116th after a 73 on the North Course. Yang is a sophomore at San Diego State.