ABERDEEN’S Dylan Perry is through to the last 32 at the US Amateur at Riviera Country Club after winning his first match-play contest on the 19th hole.
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The British Amateur runner-up was three up after 11 holes against Alex Smalley on Thursday, but double bogeys at 12 and 13 let the American close the gap.
He bogeyed the 18th to send the match into extra holes but birdied the 450m, par-four first to make it through.
“I played well for the first 11 holes, but I lost my swing a little late in the round. It was nice to make a birdie down 19 to win the match, though," Perry told Golf NSW.
The local 22-year-old, who plays out of The Vintage, is 41st on the world amateur rankings after a meteoric rise over the past 18 months.
“It all started when I made the British Amateur final 16 last year,” he said.
“I knew I could compete with the best players in the world and it has driven me to be better.”
He lost the British Amateur final in June on the 38th hole after an agonising late collapse but rebounded to win his US Amateur qualifying tournament.
“Obviously it was all experience, but you just have to treat it like a game of golf,” Perry said.
“I know I have to just be patient and enjoy it.
“Everything else will take care of itself.”
Perry will meet California native and world No.6 Collin Morikawa, who beat fellow Australian Brett Collyer, in the round of 32 at 1.25am on Friday (AEST).
To make Monday’s 36-hole final, he must survive two match-play rounds on Friday, a quarter-final on Saturday and Sunday’s semi-finals.
The winner will play in all the majors next year except the PGA Championship.
The runner-up earns a spot in the US Masters and Open.
