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The Masters: Bryson DeChambeau in the mix, Langasque makes cut as well
Bryson DeChambeau
Bryson DeChambeau

AUGUSTA, GA (April 8, 2016)—No amateur has ever won the Masters. 79 tournaments, 79 professionals have been victorious. That could all change this weekend and the man that could do it is 22-year-old Bryson DeChambeau (E). After the opening 36-holes of competition DeChambeau is just four-stokes off the pace set by leader Jordan Spieth (-4).

Of the six amateurs in the field the only other to make the cut was Frenchmen Romain Langasque. Augusta National Golf Club played extremely tough during the first two rounds as strong winds whipped through the famed pines causing some of the best players in the world to miss the 6-over-par cut. Some of the more notable players to finish outside the cut line are Phil Mickelson (+7), Zach Johnson (+8), Ernie Els (+9) and Rickie Fowler (+9).

Here is a look at some of the highlights for the amateurs in this year’s field:

Bryson DeChambeau (E-T8): Oh what could have been for DeChambeau. The young amateur playing in his first career major had the round of the day going at 3-under-par when he stepped onto the 18th tee. After striking the ball beautifully all afternoon long DeChameabu inexplicably pulled his drive way left into an unplayable lie, then he did it again, fortunately the second ball was findable. However, the ball was resting against what appeared to be a storage bin, which prompted DeChambeau to march closer to the 9th fairway, then the 18th to take his drop.

"(It's disappointing) I mean you don't want to finish with a triple but at the same time it is what it is," DeChambeau told ESPN's Tom Rinaldi following the round. "I'm playing some great golf out here and I am really looking forward to the weekend. I made the cut."

Following the drop it was nearly 280-yards to the green and by now DeChambeau was already hitting his fourth shot. A spectacular shot left the 2015 NCAA champion just short of the left green side bunker and after a nifty chip he had a makable putt for double- bogey. The putt just slid by leading to a tap in for a closing triple-bogey. When the dust settled DeChambeau went from one-stroke back and in a T2 to T8 and four behind.

The disappointing finish does not in anyway take away from the fireworks DeChambeau was able to provide through his first 17 holes. On the first hole DeChambeau chipped in for birdie to jump start an opening nine 2-under-par 34. The strong play continued on the back nine with birdies on 11, 12 and 15 offsetting bogeys on 10 and 16. It appeared as if DeChambeau had dodged the final potential bullet when he made an impressive up and down for par on No. 17 but then the 18th happened.

"I didn't really have that many expectations coming in," DeChambeau continued to tell Rinaldi. "I knew I could play really well (but) at the same time I was just looking to hit everyone of my shots to the best of my ability and I was able to do that for a long time today. Unfortunately, 18 happened but your not going to hit every shot perfect, that is golf."

ROUND ONE RECAP: DeChambeau was 1- under-par on the front nine after a birdie on the par-5 second. He moved back to even-par after his only bogey of the day on the par-5 15th. With the strong winds today the famed 15th played into the wind and over-par, a rarity.

Romain Langasque (+3-T33): The British Amateur champion will be around for the weekend after scores of 74-73. This is the second time that Langasque has made the cut at a major. He previously made the 36-hole cut at the 2015 British Open finishing T65. Langasque got as low as 1-under-par for the tournament after an eagle on the uncharacteristically difficult par-5 15th. Unfortunately, back-to-back bogeys on 16 and 17 dropped Langasque back to 3- over-par. It was the second straight day he bogeyed the 16th and 17th holes.

ROUND ONE RECAP: Langasque had a busy scorecard during his first round at the Masters. He opened with an even-par front side after a pair of birdies and a pair of bogeys. The birdies came on No. 6 and No. 8. Langasque struggled a bit on the homeward nine with bogeys on No. 16 and 17.

Derek Bard (+9-T69): A junior at Virginia, Bard began the day with a chance to make the cut and after a birdie on No. 10 he was just 1-over-par for his round and hovering near the cut line. However, on a tough day to play Bard stumbled down the stretch finishing the day 5-over-par with a 77. He was able to finish on a positive note with a birdie on the closing hole.

ROUND ONE RECAP: Bard held his own on the first day at Augusta National. Bard birdied two holes and bogeyed six. The highlight of his round came via his birdie on No. 12. The 12th played tough on Thursday, thanks in large part to the swirling winds throughout the day. With a good round tomorrow Bard could be around for the weekend.

Cheng Jin (+13-T81): The Asia-Pacific champion wasn’t able to avoid the big numbers once more but he certainly has shown the golfing world that he has the potential to be a force. After birding four holes yesterday Jin tallied five more on Friday. His highlight stretch was 12 and 13 when he birdied the holes back-to-back. Jin also birdied 2, 8 and 18.

ROUND ONE RECAP: On day one Lin had numerous highlights as he carded four birdies. His birds came on 2, 5, 10 and 14.

Sammy Schmitz (+12-T79): The U.S. Mid- Amateur champion had a very nice showing in the second round of the Masters firing a 3-over-par 75. Schmitz birdied three of the four par-5’s during his second round. He birdied No. 2, 8 and 13. In total Schmitz birdied five holes this week.

ROUND ONE RECAP: It was a quick start for Schmitz as the Cinderella story of the event made his Masters debut. Schmitz began his round bogey- birdie-bogey and then birdied No. 6 as he shot even- par on the front. Unfortunately, things spiraled out of control on back nine but it was certainly a front round to remember as his name for a time was at the top of the leaderboard.

Paul Chaplet (+21-89): Experience is what Chaplet was hoping to gain during his trip to Augusta and he did just that on Thursday and Friday of the Masters. He also registered a couple of birdies to file in the memory bank on Friday. Chaplet, the Latin American champion, didn’t birdie a hole yesterday but picked up a pair on holes 2 and 9. Without a doubt some nice memories for the youngest player in the field to head home with.

ROUND ONE RECAP: Just 16-years-old Chaplet came to the Masters with the hopes of catching the eyes of college coaches. After finishing T4 at 4- under-par in Wednesday’s Par 3 Contest Chaplet is likely doing just that.

Results: The Masters
T21CABryson DeChambeauClovis, CA80072-72-77-72=293
T39FranceRomain LangasqueFrance70074-73-83-68=298

View full results for The Masters

ABOUT THE The Masters

One of Golf's four professional majors traditionally invites amateurs who have reached the finals of the US Amateur, or won the British Amateur or the US Mid Amateur. Also included are the winners of the relatively new Asia Pacific Amateur and Latin American Amateur.

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