Cole Hammer advanced in the U.S. Junior Amateur on Wednesday before darkness forced the suspension of first-round play.
Hammer, the 15-year-old from Houston who played in the U.S. Open last month, beat David Snyder of McAllen, Texas, 2 and 1 at Colleton River Plantation Club's Pete Dye Course.
Hammer won the par-3 13th and par-4 14th with birdies and halved the next three holes to wrap up the match before rain and lightning delayed play for 2 hours, 45 minutes.
"It is a completely different animal," said Hammer, playing his fourth career match-play event. "Anything can happen in match play. You just have to stay focused and stay patient."
Stroke-play medalist Brandon Mancheno of Jacksonville, Florida, had a 2-up lead over Jack Li of China after 14 holes. The 15-year-old Mancheno completed a 69 in the morning in the delayed second round of stroke-play qualifying.
"I've had the mindset going into match play that you are still trying to shoot a low score," Mancheno said. "I am more worried about myself because if you shoot 68 or
