Hagestad becomes first U.S. Mid-Amateur winner to make Masters Cut

AUGUSTA, GA (April 7, 2017) -- In the clutch Stewart Hagestad certainly knows how to hit a clutch iron shot. Sitting at 4-over and playing the 18th hole on Friday at Augusta National Golf Club Hagestad hit a perfect approach shot that flew just past the flag and nearly rolled in for a closing eagle. After watching his player partners putt out, Hagestad tapped in his birdie putt to finish his first two rounds at the Masters 3-over and as the first ever U.S. Mid-Amateur to make the cut.

Masters 2017: Stewart Hagestad | 18th Hole, Round 2 pic.twitter.com/Wf pjcJca5m

— Masters Highlights (@MastersMoments) April 7, 2017

Hagestad is also the first mid-amateur player to make the cut since 1999 when Tom McKnight made it to the weekend after earning his spot into the field by finishing as the 1998 U.S. Amateur runner-up. “My adrenaline was firing a little bit because I knew kind of where I stood,” Hagestad said following his round, “and I obviously knew the history with mid- ams and the Masters, and that’s been something that’s been on my mind the whole week.” Hagestad who opened his week with a 2-over 74 came flying out of the gates Friday with birdies on Nos. 4 and 5 to reach even-par for the tournament. The birdie on the 5th was the result of a rolled in 19-footer. “He had a lot of good shots and made some good putts,” Hagestad’s playing competitor Larry Mize said. “I’m excited for him. He’s a nice young man, and I’m happy he’s going to be here on the weekend.” Following a run of pars Hagestad switched into hang on mode as he bogeyed the 9th, 11th, 12th and 17th holes to drop to 4-over. During the run Hagestad made a nervy par on the 16th and it all set up the closing hole dramatics that resulted in a second round 1-over 73. “The goal to start the week was earn your way to have the opportunity to come back again next year,” said Hagestad who will tee off at 12:40 p.m. EST playing with Brian Stuard for a third straight day. Reigning U.S. and Asia-Pacific Amateur champion Curtis Luck turned in a second round even-par 72 to remain at 6-over and make the cut on the number. Luck, the top-ranked player in the Golfweek/AmateurGolf.com Rankings, filled his card with nine front nine pars before kicking off a seesaw back nine at Augusta National Golf Club with a birdie on the 10th. Luck then grabbed two more birdies on the 13th and 15th holes while also bogeying the 14th, 16th and 18th. Luck will begin his third round at 10:50 a.m. playing alongside 1987 Masters champion Larry Mize. 2016 U.S. Amateur runner-up Brad Dalke has concluded his week at Augusta National with a 3- over 75. The Oklahoma sophomore was three shots better on Friday as he carded three birdies and six bogeys. The birdies for Dalke, 9-over for the tournament, came on Nos. 13, 16 and 18. For British Amateur winner Scott Gregory it was seven shot improvement on day two. One day after shooting a 10-over 82, Gregory put together a 3- over 75 that included a 9th hole birdie and an eagle on the par-5 2nd. Toto Gana, 17-over, was also a bit better in round two, shooting an 8-over 80. Earlier in the year Gana qualified for the Masters with his victory at the Latin America Amateur and his best stretch of golf for the week came from Nos. 4-9 when he played 2-under golf. The birdies fell on the 6th and 9th holes. -Golfweek contributed to this story