Paramus, N.J. – Sam Bennett, a fifth-year senior at Texas A&M made a birdie on the 17th hole to defeat University of North Carolina senior Dylan Menante 1 up Saturday in the first of two semifinal matches in the 122nd United States Amateur at Ridgewood Country Club.
Menante, No. 8 player in the World Amateur Rankings, had tied the match with consecutive wins on the 14th and 15th holes before Bennett, the No. 3 ranked amateur in the world, regained the lead on the next-to-last hole.
Bennett never trailed in the match, taking 1 up leads on the third and sixth holes and a 2 up lead with wins on the 10th and 12th.