Aman Gupta and William Mouw (Southern Amateur photo)

Only 16 competitors sit below par and just eight carded even-par rounds. Leading the way heading into round two is Oklahoma State’s Aman Gupta and Pepperdine’s William Mouw. The duo posted matching 69s to kick off the tournament.

Gupta, a rising junior, was off to a slow start on Wednesday making back-to-back bogeys on holes 6 and 7 before kicking his game into gear with birdies on holes 10, 13, and 14. Capping his round off with another birdie on 18, Gupta holds a share of the lead at 3-under and will tee off at 1:50 pm CT on No. 10.

“I started off kind of shaky, not hitting it that great,” Gupta told the Southern Golf Association. “My momentum changed on 10 by hitting at the flag, making a 15-foot putt. Overall it was a great day.”

Co-leader Mouw had split success on Wednesday. Beginning his day on No. 10, he negated bogeys on holes 12 and 17 with birdies on 14 and 16. Bogey free the rest of the way, Mouw posted birdies on holes 2, 3, and 7 to round out his opening 18. Playing with defending champion A.J. Ott, he tees off of No. 1 at 8:00 am CT.

Speaking of the 2019 champ, Ott could not find the same success he had last year. Making a birdie on just his second hole of the day, Ott struggled as he bogeyed five of his next seven holes. Unable to gain strokes back on his final nine, Ott double-bogeyed two holes and birdied three more to minimize the damage. His 5-over 77 is not ideal, but he is far from being out of contention as just 35 golfers broke 80.

Maridoe Junior champion Michael Brennan is among those on the cusp of par. Going out in 35, he was unable to keep his round in the red down the stretch. Bogeys on three of the four final holes kept him out of a potential tie for third. Instead, Brennan will tee off Thursday four shots off the lead as he currently sits in a tie for 25th at 1-over.

Play resumes at 7:00 am CT. A cut from 156 to the top 66 and ties will be made following the conclusion of play on Thursday.

The Southern Amateur is the latest stop on the road to the U.S. Amateur at Bandon Dunes. Both the winner and runner(s) up will earn exemptions into the national championship.