Nathan Smith

Nathan Smith of Brookville, Pa., became the youngest champion in U.S. Mid-Amateur Championship history at Wilmington (Del.) Country Club's South Course when Bryan Norton of Mission Hills, Kan., was forced to concede the scheduled 36-hole match at the ninth hole due to a calf muscle injury.

Smith, 25, was 4 up at the time of the concession. The previous youngest champion was Greg Puga, who won the 2000 title at the age of 29.

Norton, a 44-year-old reinstated amateur, injured himself while playing his second shot at the 446-yar, par-4 ninth hole. His tee shot stuck in the hill above a right fairway bunker. Norton punched out to the fairway with a 9-iron but on the follow-through pulled a muscle in his left calf. After receiving some medical treatment, Norton made an attempt to continue, hitting two shots before conceding the match to Smith.

"It was probably a good 75-degree incline," said Norton. "It was almost straight up and down. I hit it real solid, but, of course, you are falling back down and you don't want to fight that. When I came back down, all my weight hit my left leg and it kind of twisted underneath me and my calf muscle popped."

It was the first time in the 108-year history of USGA championships that a final match was conceded due to injury or illness.

"That's a real shame," said Smith, who played collegiately at Division III Allegheny (Pa.) College. "He's such a nice guy and a great player. I was caught off guard.

"But I played well all week, so by no means is this an empty feeling."

Smith quickly jumped out to a 1-up lead at the par-4, 430-yard first hole when he stuck his 7-iron approach to within 4 feet of the hole. His birdie putt was conceded after Norton missed a 15-footer for par from the fringe. He upped his advantage to 2 up at the par-5, 590-yard third hole by nailing another 7-iron approach from 137 yards to 4 feet. Again the putt was conceded after Norton lipped out a 5-footer for par.

At the par-4, 415-yard fifth, Norton failed to convert a 10-foot par putt and Smith two-putted from 30 feet for a 3-up lead. The lead swelled to 4 up at the par-4, 448-yard eighth when Smith holed a 24-foot birdie putt after Norton's chip shot (third shot) came to rest 18 inches from the hole. One hole later, the match was over.