Lehman Qualifies for Match Play in Playoff, Eliminated in Opening Round

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  NEWPORT BEACH, Calif. – After qualifying for match play during a playoff at the 2014 U.S. Senior Amateur Championship Monday, Minnesotan Jim Lehman fell to David Nelson in opening round at Big Canyon Country Club.

Lehman, Minnetonka, Minn., finished the opening rounds of qualifying tied for 52nd at 5-over par 149 and was one of 13 players to advance to the match play portion of the tournament after a 15-person playoff early Monday.

Nelson, Reno, Nev., took a quick lead over Lehman with a birdie on the opening hole and increased his lead to 2-up after another birdie at the par-3 third.

Lehman rolled in consecutive birdies at the fifth and sixth holes to square the match and the two would remain deadlocked until the 10th.

Nelson regained his 2-up lead after back-to-back bogeys by Lehman at the 10th and 11th and would take a commanding 4-up lead after a second pair of bogeys by Lehman at the 13th and 14th.

Lehman would battle back late by winning the 15th hole before rolling in a birdie to take the 16th, cutting the deficit to two. But it would be too little too late as both players made bogey on the 17th and Nelson clinched the match, 2 and 1.


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