June 26, 2005

COLUMBIA, Mo. - Mizzou sophomore John Kelly (St. Louis, Mo. / Christian Brothers College HS) lost his attempt to be the first Tiger to win the Missouri State Amateur title since 2001, as he dropped a 1-up match to Springfield's Matthew Keith.

Kelly advanced to Sunday's 36-hole final with a 4-and-2 quarterfinal win over top-seeded Matthew Bortis of Springfield and a 1-up semifinal win over Columbia's John Weston.

Kelly was attempting to become the first Tiger to win the Missouri Amateur since Mark McBride won back-to-back titles in 2000 and 2001. McBride was the first repeat winner since Tom Watson in 1970 and 1971.