U.S. Amateur: BYU's Blair wins first-r..

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Former BYU golfer Zac Blair survived a playoff to advance to match play Wednesday, then held on a late rally to win his first match in the U.S. Amateur at The Country Club in Brookline, Mass.

Blair took a 1-up victory over Nick Hardy, a high school senior from Northbrook, Ill.

Blair, an Ogden product who just completed his BYU career, never trailed in the match. He was 3 up through 15 holes, only to lose the next two holes. But he advanced when each player birdied the par-4 No. 18.

The rounds of 32 and 16 will be staged Thursday. Blair's next opponent is Matthias Schwab of Austria.

Blair shot 69-75 in stroke-play qualifying and was among 17 players competing in a playoff for the last 15 spots.

Hardy was the first-round leader with a 65, followed by a 73.

U.S. Amateur: BYU's Blair wins first-round match