CHERRY HILLS VILLAGE, Colo. – J.M. Butler's exhilarating week at the 2023 United States Amateur Championship came to a close Saturday as he fell in the semifinals to Neal Shipley 2 & 1 at Cherry Hills Country Club. Butler was the final Auburn golfer left standing in the event as the Tigers sent four players to this year's round of 32, the most by any program in the country.
"It just wasn't my day," Butler said. "We've got bigger things ahead of us at Auburn. We're probably going to have the deepest team in the country, and I believe we'll have the best team in the country and we'll have a chance to win a national championship. This isn't the end for me or Auburn golf. You're going to see us very soon."
It was a roller coaster of a match between the two competitors as Butler began the day by winning two of the first three holes to take a 2-up advantage on Shipley. Shipley then responded by taking four and five to get back to even. The tie did not last long though as Butler took holes six and seven and 10 to build a three-hole lead. The pair continued to trade blows as Shipley took three of the next five to force a draw heading into 16. Butler was bested on 16 and finally, 17 to end his magical run.
Shipley will face Nick Dunlap in Sunday's 36-hole finale which is set to commence at 8 a.m. CT.
Thanks to Butler and 2023 U.S. Women's Amateur Champion Megan Schofill, Auburn was the only university represented in the final four of both the men's and women's championships.
Auburn men's golf will return to action with a fully loaded roster that includes Butler and its other four U.S. Am participants Friday, Sept. 8 as the Tigers trek to Cave Creek, Arizona to begin their fall season and defend last year's title at the Maui Jim Intercollegiate.
