PEBBLE BEACH, Calif. – Despite battling all afternoon against No. 33-ranked Zach Murray in the first round of match-play at the U.S. Amateur, ETSU rising sophomore Jack Rhea could not extend his stay at Pebble Beach another day.

After landing his second shot 20 feet from the hole on the par-5, 18th, Rhea needed to sink the eagle putt to extend the match. Rhea suffered a heartbreaking moment as his eagle putt lipped out, resulting in Murray winning the match, 1-up.

Rhea, who advanced to match play after finishing tied for 10th in the 36-hole stroke play event, never trailed by more than one hole all afternoon. After dropping the par-4, 513-yard No. 2, the Jonesborough, Tennessee, native bounced back with a birdie putt on the par-3, 180-yard No. 5 to pull even. From there, Murray went back up one by posting a birdie on the following hole; however, Rhea continued to keep his composure and registered a birdie on No. 7 and then a par on No. 9 to take his first lead of the match.

Rhea was then 1-up heading to the tee box on the par-4, 448-yard No. 13, but Murray posted consecutive birdies on No. 13 and 14 to go back ahead. Like he did all afternoon, Rhea continued to battle and pulled all-square following a par on the 394-yard, 15th. After both golfers halved the par-4, 402-yard 16th, Murray took the lead for good after making a birdie putt on the par-3, 17th.

Rhea did not go down without a fight, but after Murray made his birdie putt on No. 18, the Buccaneer standout needed to drain his 20-foot eagle attempt. Rhea’s line was spot on, but as the ball hit the left edge of the cup, it dropped and then lipped out – giving Murray the win.