Neal Shipley leads the amateurs through round one of the U.S. Open

June 13, 2024 | by Justin Golba of AmateurGolf.com

Neal Shipley (USGA Photo)

Shipley will look to be the first golfer to win low amateur at the U.S. Open and the Masters since Viktor Hovland in 2019

The last time Neal Shipley walked off the golf course at a major championship, he was the low amateur.

After the first round of the U.S. Open at Pinehurst No. 2, he held the same title.

Shipley shot an impressive even par 70 to sit T16 after the opening round. The recent Ohio State graduate recorded four birdies, two bogeys, and one double bogey. He birdied No. 1 and bogeyed No. 2 for an up-and-down start but was 2-under through 14 holes before making a double bogey on the par-3 No. 15.

He currently ranks No. 8 in strokes gained off the tee in the field. However, he was 71st in strokes gained short game.

Shipley made headlines in April, finishing as the low amateur at the Masters Tournament and playing with Tiger Woods in the final round. The most recent golfer to earn low amateur honors at both the U.S. Open and Masters was Viktor Hovland in 2019.

Plus, he has a cool headcover.

Ohio State graduate Neal Shipley is using an Arby’s clubhead cover at the 2024 U.S. Open 👀😂

📸 Katie Goodale / USA TODAY Sports pic.twitter.com/dEdWxflcd7
— Eleven Warriors (@11W) June 13, 2024

The next closest amateurs are Bryan Kim, the 2023 U.S. Junior Amateur winner who just finished his freshman season at Duke, who is 2-over, Omar Morales and Gordon Sargent, who shot 3-over 73 and sit T65. Sargent is the No. 1 ranked player in the Golfweek/AmateurGolf.com World Rankings.

Wells Williams, Gunnar Broin, Hiroshi Tai, Ben James, and Ashton McCulloch are all T105 at 5-over. Tai won the NCAA individual championships to earn his spot in the field.

According to DataGolf, there is a 20.4 percent chance the cut will be 3-over, a 42.1 percent chance the cut will be 4-over, and a 27.8 percent chance the cutline will be 5-over.

Results: U.S. Open Golf Championship

Place	Player	Location	Pts	Scores
T26	Neal Shipley	Pittsburgh, PA	800	70-73-71-72
T41	Luke Clanton	Miami Lakes, FL	500	76-69-69-74
T70	Gunnar Broin	Chanhassen, MN	500	75-68-81-72

View full results for U.S. Open Golf Championship

About the U.S. Open Golf Championship

Neal Shipley leads the amateurs through round one of the U.S. Open

The U.S. Open is the biggest of the 15 national championships conducted by the USGA. Open to amateurs and professionals. Amateurs gain entry via USGA win or runner-up finishes while having the opportunity to qualify alongside non-exempt professionals...