Two Eagles give Ghim Low Amateur Lead at the Masters

April 5, 2018 | by AmateurGolf.com Staff

Doug Ghim during the 1st round of the Masters (Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images)

Doug Ghim will get two pieces of crystal for a 3 at the 13th and a hole-out 2 on the final hole

AUGUSTA, GA (April 5, 2018) - Doug Ghim, the U.S. Amateur runner-up from Arlington Heights, IL and the University of Texas, shot a 72 to lead the group of six amateurs competing in the Masters at Augusta National Golf Club.

Related: Here are the Six Amateurs Playing in the 2018 Masters
Related: Tee Times for the Six Masters Amateurs

Ghim couldn't get anything going early, making double at the 7th hole and sitting 4 over par through 12. But he reached the green in two on the par-5 13th and rolled in a 10-footer for eagle, the first by any player at the 2018 Masters.

First eagle of the Tournament goes to U.S. Amateur runner-up @DougGhim at No. 13. #themasters pic.twitter.com/4WnbPYgMlO
— Masters Tournament (@TheMasters) April 5, 2018

Still two over in the 18th fairway, Ghim hit the shot of the tournament so far, holing a mid-iron from 179 yards to the back-right hole location, getting him back to even par and earning an embrace from his caddie and father Jeff.

.@DougGhim holes out from 179 yards on No. 18 for his second eagle of the day. #themasters pic.twitter.com/wAESqDVCos
— Masters Tournament (@TheMasters) April 5, 2018

It was only the 6th eagle on the 18th hole in Masters history.

Joaquin Niemann, the Latin American Amateur champion from Chile, bogeyed his first three holes on Thursday but steadied himself from there. Birdies at both par fives on the back got him to 2 over but he bogeyed his final two holes for a 76.

Doc Redman, the U.S. Amateur champion from Raleigh, NC and Clemson University, had the most exciting playing partners of any of the six amateurs playing this week, getting play with both the defending Masters champion Sergio Garcia and the winner of the last major championship that was played, PGA champion Justin Thomas.

Early on, Redman was low man in the group, going 1 under through 5 holes. His birdie on the 15th was 9 shots better than Garcia, who hit five balls in the water on the way to a 13. But Redman made six bogeys and ended up with a 76.

Yuxin Lin, the Asia-Pacfiic Amateur champion, also started slowly, with four bogeys over his first eight holes. A birdie at the 9th got him to 3 over, but he bogeyed four straight holes starting at the 14th and finished with a 79.

Matt Parziale, the U.S. Mid-Amateur champion from Brockton, MA who fulfilled his dream of playing with Tiger Woods yesterday, shot an 81 playing alongside 2003 Masters champion Mike Weir and Brendan Steele. Parziale had birdies at the 4th, 5th and 15th, but made a pair of doubles at the 7th and the famed par-3 12th.

Tournament Chairman Fred Ridley with the six Masters amateurs:
Ellis, Lin, Niemann, Ghim, Redman, Parziale (Masters photo)

Harry Ellis, the British Amateur champion, struggled to an 86 playing with 1998 Masters champion Mark O'Meara and Brian Harman.

Masters Amateur Leaderboard

72 (T21) Doug Ghim
76 (T62) Joaquin Niemann
76 (T62) Doc Redman
79 (T82) Yuxin Lin
81 (T85) Matt Parziale
86 (87) Harry Ellis

Results: The Masters

Place	Player	Location	Pts	Scores
T50	Doug Ghim	Arlington Heights, IL	600	72-76-74-74=296
MC	Joaquin Niemann	, Chile	0	76-77=153
MC	Doc Redman	Raleigh, NC	0	76-77=153
MC	Yuxin Lin	, China	0	79-80=159
MC	Matt Parziale	Brockton, MA	0	81-79=160

View full results for The Masters

About the The Masters

Two Eagles give Ghim Low Amateur Lead at 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 ...