South Carolina Golf Association Hall of FamerTodd White’s effort to win back to back USGA Senior Amateur titles ended in the quarter finals on Wednesday at the Honors course near Chattanooga.

White was matched with the events “giant killer” Bob Nelson from Fairhope, Alabama. Nelson earned his spot in the quarter finals by knocking off two former USGA Senior Amateur champions in his previous two rounds.

On Wednesday morning he made it three in a row when he was able to claim a 1-up victory over the defending champion.

Nelson took the early lead in the match before White was able even it up at the turn.

On the back nine the recent winner of the British Senior Amateur took his first lead with a birdie on the 10th hole.

He added two more birdies on the 12th and 13th hole and held a 2 up lead after number 14.

Things changed at that point in the match as Nelson moved up to tie White late in the round.

Nelson birdied number 15 and number 17 and benefited from a bogey by White on the final hole to win the quarter final match 1-Up.

White’s short missed putt on the final hole put a cap on a putting round that was not up to White’s usual standard of play.

“Last year I rode my putter to victory,” said White. “Well, this morning my putter sent me home. I didn’t putt well today,” said the defending champion.

Lewis Brown from Marietta, Georgia will face Daniel Sullivan from Pasadena, California for the championship on Thursday morning.

Next year’s USGA Senior Amateur will be played at Biltmore Forest near Asheville.