OAKMONT, PA (08/21/03) -- Michael McDermott , a 1997 graduate of SJU, birdied the par four 14th-hole and kept a one hole lead for the remainder of the round to upset first-seeded John Holmes, 1-up to advance to the round of 16 at the U.S. Amateur Golf Championships. McDermott will continue his trek to become the best amateur golfer in the country today at 1:15 p.m when he takes on Patrick Carter. ESPN will begin coverage at 2 p.m. at Oakmont Country Club near Pittsburgh. The former Hawk started the round out cold, falling behind by three holes after five. However, two pars on six and seven brought McDermott back to within one of Holmes, a junior at the University of Kentucky. A birdie on the par three eighth hole brought the competitiors back to square. McDermott would take one hole leads on the 10th and 12th holes, but Holmes fought back to square. A birdie on 14 gave McDermott the lead for good. Yesterday, McDermott staged a comeback on the final four holes to defeat Luke Bakke, 2-up, in the first round of match play in the U.S. Amateur Golf Championship. Down one hole after 14, McDermott birdied the 15th and 17th holes and finished with a par on 18 to seal the win. McDermott, who plays out of Llanerch Country Club in Havertown and is the only area player remaining. Another former Hawk, Paul Polinsky, lost six and five to Andrew Pratt in his first round match. Past champions of the U.S. Amateur include Tiger Woods (three times), Jack Nicklaus (twice), Justin Leonard, Phil Mickelson, Jay Siegal, and Mark O'Meara, among others. Oakmont CC has been the site of seven U.S. Opens, including most recently in 1994, when Ernie Els was victorious. Follow the action on USAmateur.org Philadelphia Inquirer Story