Medalist, Defending Champion Lose in Opening Round of U.S. Amateur

David Lind, who survived a 31-way playoff earlier in the day and got the last of 64 spots for match play, eliminated qualifying medalist Tom McKnight, 2 and 1, in Thursday’s first round of the 88th U.S. Amateur Championship.

McKnight was not the only prominent loser on the first of four days of match play at the par-70, 6,586-yard Cascades Course of the Virginia Hot Springs Golf Club. Wes Tuck, an Auburn senior who won the Alabama Open last week, birdied four straight holes on the front nine and eliminated defending champion Bill Mayfair, 4 and 2.

Two former champions remain in the 32-player field.

Philadelphia insurance executive Jay Sigel, the 1982 and 1983 winner, sank a 5-foot birdie putt on the 18th hole for a 1-up victory over Oklahoma State’s Brian Montgomery. Buddy Alexander, the 1986 champion, advanced with a 1-up win over Kevin Wentworth of Manteca, Calif.

In today’s second round, Alexander, the University of Florida coach, will meet one of his players, Chris DiMarco, who beat Dennis Postlewait of Winter Springs, Fla., 5 and 3.