Manassero paces amateurs at Masters

April 8, 2010 | by AmateurGolf.com Staff

Not content with setting a record as the youngest-ever contestant, 16-year-old Matteo Mananserro posts a 1-under 71, is in great shape to play over the weekend

AUGUSTA, Georgia (April 8, 2010) -- Italian sensation Matteo Manassero -- who narrowly edged Nathan Smith in amateurgolf.com's Facebook fan page low-amateur voting -- posted a fine 1-under par 71 at Augusta National on Thursday. Playing in a featured pairing with Lee Westwood and 2003 champion Mike Weir, Manassero made three birdies and just two bogeys as he worked his way around the course like a veteran. In the words of one commentator on masters.org: "If you didn't know his age, and didn't see his face, you would never know that he was less than 25 by the decisions he makes on the golf course." Indeed, the British Amateur champion, when faced with a tough shot on No. 18 from the right greenside bunker, used the hill behind the flag to get to within 7 feet from where he saved par. Nathan Smith's round was a bit more exciting, to say the least. Through the first 12 holes, he had five birdies and three bogeys and stood at 2-under. He had finished the hardest two holes of "Amen Corner" and was looking at two par fives coming home, but Smith made four straight bogeys and a par at the last. Benjamin, the left hander, made bogey on No. 9 to shoot 1-over on the front, but bounced back with a birdie at the 10th, and 8-straight pars coming home to put him in very good shape to post a solid Friday round and make the cut for the weekend. 26 of amateurgolf's fans picked Manassero as low amateur, while 24 chose Nathan Smith. Ben Martin was next with 9 votes, followed by Byeong-Hun An (3), Brad Benjamin (2), and Chang-won Han (1). All players with the correct pick will receive an amateurgolf.com Tour towel. * * * First round amateur scores from the Masters Invitational follow: -- 71 -- Matteo Manassero -- 73 -- Brad Benjamin -- 74 -- Nathan Smith -- 75 -- Ben Martin -- 78 -- Byeong-Hun An -- 79 -- Chang-won Han

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 ...

Most Popular Articles

GOLF'S LONGEST DAY: 2026 U.S. Open Final Qualifying Monday June 8

Jun 5, 2026Follow along from 10 locations - our team is on the ground looking for the best stories

2026 U.S. Open Final Qualifying: A final rundown from Golf's Longest Day

Jun 8, 202612 amateurs qualified for Shinnecock at 10 sites around the country on June 8. Two of them were medalists.

2026 NCAA Men's Golf Championship: Live Coverage, Field & Daily Updates from La Costa

Jun 3, 2026Auburn defeats UCLA at La Costa to capture its second NCAA men’s golf championship in three years.

Stanford Wins 4th NCAA Women's Golf Title, Tops USC

May 26, 2026The Cardinals closed a dominant week at La Costa with another match-play crown — their fourth national title

2026 NCAA DI Men's Regionals Recap: The 30 Teams Through to Omni La Costa

May 21, 2026Texas, Arizona and Oklahoma rolled, Vanderbilt outdueled No. 1 Auburn, and Texas Tech headlined a brutal bubble.

Filters

Related Tournament

The Masters

View Details

Loading latest news...

Loading article...