Miller Bows Out Of U.S. Amateur Public Links Championship In Round of 16
7/1/2011 12:00:00 AM | Men's Golf
Rising Kent State junior advances to the final 16 of match play before being knocked out
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BANDON, Ore. -- Rising Kent State junior Kevin Miller (Dover, Ohio / Sugarcreek Garaway) advanced to the Round of 16 in match play at the 2011 U.S. Amateur Public Links Championship before a 5&4 loss ended his run. Playing the Bandon Dunes Golf Resort's Old Macdonald course, Miller won his second round match-up on Thursday morning before falling to Jonathan Randolph in the afternoon.
Miller, who was playing in his first Public Links Championship, earned his spot in the Round of 16 with the 4&3 second round win over Nick MacDonald, the 2010 New Hampshire State Amateur Champion. One down after two holes in the match, Miller won three of the next four holes to go two holes up after six holes of play. The duo tied next five holes as Miller maintained his two up advantage through 11 holes. A birdie on the 237 yard par 3 12th by Miller final moved the score board as the Dover, Ohio product went ahead three up with six holes left. After three more holes were tied, he finally closed the door with a birdie on No. 15 for the 4&3 win.
In the afternoon, Miller was unable to slow down Randolph who placed second in stroke play and advanced to the final eight without playing past the 15th hole in any of his first three matches. The No. 1 player for Ole Miss this past season, Randolph led from start to finish against Miller capitalizing by winning all four holes on which the Kent State junior carded a bogey. Down two after three holes, Miller made birdie on No. 4, a 504-yard, par 4, to win his first hole of the match, but Randolph answered right back with a birdie on No. 5 to maintain the two up advantage he would not relinquish.
The 2011 First Team All-Mid-American Conference honoree was the only player from the state of Ohio to earn a spot in the 64-man match play bracket. His 36-hole stroke play total of 150 (77-73) was good enough to place him tied for 46th among the 156 entrants.
Miller is next set to compete in the Ohio Publinx State Amateur Championship at Seven Hills Golf Course - July 26 - 29, 2011. He won the event last year with a nine-under 279 (72-65-70-72).
