Marsh advances to quarterfinals at US Mid-Amateur

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (AP) — Kevin Marsh won two matches, including a second-round win over defending champion Nathan Smith, on Tuesday to advance to the quarterfinal round at the U.S. Mid-Amateur Championship.

The event was held at the par-71, 7,173-yard Country Club of Birmingham’s West Course.

Marsh, the 2005 U.S. Mid-Amateur titlist, defeated Smith, a four-time winner of this championship, 2 and 1. In the third round, he held off Keith Unikel 1 up.

“I told myself at lunch to not have a letdown,” said Marsh about his morning win over Smith, a member of last month’s winning USA Walker Cup Team. “I was proud of myself for beating Nathan. It wouldn’t have meant as much if I was not able to back it up.”

Marsh had a 3-up lead after 10 holes, but Unikel reeled off three consecutive birdies to square the third-round match. A pair of pars helped Marsh win Nos. 14 and 15. He two-putted from the upper left fringe on the par-4 14th and made a 6-footer on the following hole.