BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — Cory Whitsett weathered the storms that halted play on Wednesday, but could not hold on to the one that whisked him away from repeating as U.S. Amateur champion.

The 16-year-old golf star from Memorial fell in the first round of match play at the 61th U.S. Junior Amateur Championships, ending his chances to win back-to-back championships since Tiger Woods accomplished the feat by winning three from 1991-93.

Dom Bozzelli, 17, of Pittsford, N.Y., won the fourth and fifth holes and slowly pulled away to earn a 4-and-3 victory over Whitsett.

“I just played bad; it was as easy as that,” Whitsett told local media after his round. “I didn’t hit my irons good at all; I didn’t drive it in the fairway. I just didn’t do the things you have to in match play to win. ...

“I was just playing terrible early and I wasn’t doing anything to put any pressure on him,” Whitsett said. “He just played better; it’s match play.”

 
Whitsett had to finish his second round of stroke play earlier in the day because of storms that delayed Tuesday’s conclusion of stroke play to Wednesday morning. Whitsett finished stroke play by going 2-over par 74 in the final round to finish sixth with a 36-hole score of 143.

Another golfer from the Houston area also lost in the first round of match play, as Clear Creek senior Curtis Donohoe lost to Adam Sumrall of South Bend, Ind., 4 and 2.

As stroke play ended Wednesday morning, three Houston-area golfers failed to qualify for match play.

Kevin Vanden Heuvel of Katy Taylor finished one stroke behind the qualifying mark, shooting a 153. Sugar Land’s Nicko Dodd, of Strake Jesuit, finished with a 155.

Twenty-one of the 32 matches were completed before darkness forced play to end. The tournament will resume Thursday morning.

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