Conners is low amateur, but misses cut

Amateur Corey Conners played his first competitive round at Augusta National Golf Club on Thursday and learned how challenging the historic layout can be when he shot 80.

But on Friday, the Canadian found his comfort zone — firing 3-under 69 in a round that included six birdies.

Conners, who qualified for the Masters as the 2014 U.S. Amateur runner-up, missed the cut at 5-over, but finished as the low amateur by a stroke.

He won’t receive the Silver Cup awarded to the low amateur, because he missed the cut, but Conners has bigger things to worry about.

“It was much different than yesterday,” the 23-year-old Conners said. “Today I drove the ball well, and made a lot of iron shots and holed the putts. I still left a few shots out there, but I was really happy with the score.

“I’m looking forward to turning professional and playing my first professional tournament next week.”

Conners will be in the field at the RBC Heritage in Hilton Head Island, S.C., which starts Thursday.

He got off to a quick start, hitting a 5-iron to 20 feet on the first hole and sinking the putt for birdie. Conners did well on the par-5s, making birdies on No. 2, No. 13 and No. 15. He also birdied the par-4 5th hole, knocking a 6-iron from 200 yards to 12 feet and converting and made a two at No. 16.

Conners edged Byron Meth by a shot and Antonio Murdaca of Australia by two shots.

Meth earned his Masters invite as the final winner of the U.S. Public Links Championship, which was ended by the USGA. The talented senior from the University of Pacific in Stockton, Calif., didn’t have his best day off the tee.

But he used some advice he got from Rory McIlroy during a practice round Monday to get the most of his round.

“He said to keep it simple and play confident, and that really helped me today,” Meth said. “I was a little squirrelly off the tee today, so I was out of position. But I kept it simple and gave myself an opportunity from the right side of the hole. And I made some solid pars.”

Meth handed a golf ball to a young boy as he made his way to the 10th tee. His former golf coach at Pacific was there and told Meth is was a nice gesture, and Meth joked, “He probably doesn’t even know my name.”

Meth, who has had a distinguished amateur career, has plans to turn professional soon.

Matias Dominguez of Chile shot 76 again to finish at 8-over, while U.S. Mid-Amateur champion Scott Harvey carded an 81 to finish at 13-over, which was tied with Bradley Neil, the British Amateur champion from Scotland. U.S. Amateur champion Gunn Yang, of Korea, settled down to shoot 74 after an opening round 85.