MICHAEL Hunt's American dream was just one round away from coming true on Sunday.

But his defeat in the final of the British Mid Amateur Championship denied him the chance to fly across the Atlantic and play for a place in next year's US Masters.

Clevedon's Daniel Perrett beat Hunt, of Pleasington, 2&1 to secure a tee-off slot in the US Mid Amateur, the winner of which automatically qualifies for the Augusta Major next year.

And Hunt, who has exemption for the 2005 British Amateur Championship, revealed his disappointment in falling at the final hurdle at Royal Liverpool last weekend.

"He just didn't let me in and didn't make any mistakes on the back nine," said Hunt.

"I can't complain because I had a good week and will try to take the positives out of it rather than look back at the negatives because the only one was that I didn't win.

"On the 17th my putt lipped out on me and I think if it had gone in I would have gone on to win the last hole because he would have been nervous.

"On the first tee I was loving the moment and there was a crowd watching, which I like, so I was well up for it."

It's hardly surprising Hunt was confident given his performances in the competition for players 25 and over.

The 26-year-old easily eclipsed his previous last 16 performance at St Andrew's last year after he qualified for the matchplay with scores of 72 and 74 to finish ninth in the overall field.

In the first matchplay games on Friday he saw off Daniel Smith for Sundridge park 5&4 and Welwyn Garden City's Tyrone Carter 4&3.

Saturday morning's 5&4 defeat of Welsh golfer Neil Povell set up a quarter-final meeting with John Kemp, who was going for a hat-trick of titles.

After ending Kemp's run with a 3&2 victory on Saturday afternoon Hunt knocked out Cheshire champion David Peel, from Stockport, 2&1 the following morning.

This set up the final with Perrett, who made his decisive move by winning the par five 14th after chipping 60 yards to within 12 feet of the pin.

Craig Fort from Nelson also made it to the matchplay at Hoylake as he shot a second round 70 for a qualifying aggregate of 147.

However, he then came up against American Kelly Miller, who edged him out by one hole.

Hunts sights are now set on securing the Mitsushiba Northern Order of Merit title.

He only intends to play in a few of the remaining nine events but has a 180-point lead over Ashton-on-Mersey's Kevin Kean.