Amateur Matthias Schmid Etches Name in British Open Lore With 65 in Round 2

The 23-year-old German matched Tom Lewis' record for lowest amateur round in an Open, and ensured that he would be sticking around for the weekend at Royal St. George's.

Matthias Schmid turned back the clock on Friday and replayed one of the most famous rounds in British Open history — matching amateur Tom Lewis’ sizzling 65 in 2011.

Schmid became the second amateur to shoot the score, which represents the lowest amateur round in championship history.

The 5-under card at Royal St. George's ensured Schmid will be around to collect a Silver Medal for making the cut. As the day progressed, the projected cut was at 2 over par. After an opening 74, Schmid’s second-round 65 put him at 1 under for the championship.

In 2011, Lewis opened the British Open at Royal St. George’s with a 65 and was tied for the lead with Thomas Bjorn. Lewis finished in a tie for 12th.

Schmid, a 23-year old German, was a senior at the University of Louisville in 2020-21. He won the European Amateur title in 2019 and 2020 and is playing in his second British Open, having missed the cut at Royal Portrush in 2019. Schmid has played in two PGA Tour events previously this year, with missed cuts at Bay Hill and the U.S. Open. In each those four rounds he shot a 76.

But he changed the broken record with a 74 on Thursday. Then, in the morning of Round 2, Schmid found his mojo. His bogey-free round included five birdies and a 31 on the backside. He hit 16 greens in regulation and avoided three-putts on the hardening greens.

After putting himself in good position with his approach at No. 18, Schmid had a chance to break Lewis’ record low score and shoot a 64. His birdie putt lipped out and he settled for a near-miss par.

Currently No. 12 in the world amateur golf rankings, Schmid is one of eight amateurs in the field. Chinese amateur Yuxin Lin opened the championship with a 69 and also has a chance to make the weekend.

The British Open did not have a Silver Medal winner in 2019, when no amateurs made the cut. Sam Locke earned the award at Carnoustie in 2018.

Schmid appears to be trending in the right direction. He finished tied for 14th at the European Tour BMW International Open a few weeks ago, finishing the tournament at 11-under par. He is expected to turn pro after this week. Regardless, his name is now etched in the British Open amateur record books.

More Day 2 British Open Coverage from Morning Read:

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- Could a Brit Finally Win a British Open? Several Contenders Have a Shot
- Morikawa Takes Run at Open Scoring Record, Shoots 64 to Surge Into Lead
- From Challenge Tour to British Open, Marcel Siem Plays Way into Contention
- Amateur Mattias Schmid Etches Name in Open Lore With Second-Round 65
- Will Zalatoris WD From Open, One Day After Painful Shot Out of Deep Rough
- Bryson DeChambeau Rips Gear, Says Driver 'Sucks' After Uneven Opening Round