Local golf: Lyerly’s run ends in semifinals
Published 8:49 pm Saturday, July 2, 2022
- Nick Lyerly shot 3-under 69 Tuesday and finished 12-under for the three-day tournament. File photo by Wayne Hinshaw, for the Salisbury Post
Staff report
PINEHURST — Nick Lyerly (East Rowan, UNC Greensboro) lost in Saturday afternoon’s semifinals in match play in the 122nd North & South Amateur.
Lyerly was one of 32 in a field of 120 who qualified for match play after two rounds of stroke play.
Seeded 21st for match play, Lyerly won matches against the 12, 5 and 13 seeds to reach the semifinals.
Lyerly never had the lead in his semifinal match against 16th-seeded Luke Clanton, a Florida State recruit, and lost 4 and 3.
Clanton built a 4-up lead through 13 holes. Lyerly won the 14th, but Clanton took the 15th and closed out Lyerly by making a 10-foot putt.
Warrior pro Brian Lee caddied for Lyerly.
Clanton’s opponent in Sunday’s final will be towering, 10th-seeded Thomas Morrison, who stands 6-foot-9.
Lyerly was the only North Carolina native to make the Final Four.
In a 2 and 1 weather-delayed quarterfinal win against Ben Woodruff on Saturday morning, Lyerly took charge by winning 7, 10 and 12 with birdies.
Lyerly won 1-up on the 18th green in a tight match in the Round of 16. Lyerly came back after being down a hole at the turn.
Lyerly built a 5-up lead in the Round of 32 and held on for a 2 and 1 victory.
