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SPORTS
Kinker starts slow at U.S. Amateur
PINEHURST, N.C. -- Nathan Kinker didn't have the start he wanted Monday in the 108th U.S. Amateur at Pinehurst Resort and Country Club.
The Marshall golfer made a double bogey on the par-4 first hole, had a bogey on No. 2 and that led to an 8-over-par 78 on the resort's historic No. 2 course. Kinker's scorecard showed nine pars, seven bogeys, one double bogey and one birdie on the 7,281-yard layout.
Wesley Bryan, 18, of Chapin, S.C., made four birdies on his way to a 3-under 67 on No. 2 to share the lead with Andrew Putnam of University Place, Wash. Putnam played on No. 4.
After today's second qualifying round, the starting field of 312 will be cut to 64 for match play. Kinker, playing in his first U.S. Am, heads over to No. 4 today and goes off No. 10 at 2:45 p.m.
An errant drive and three putt contributed to six on No. 1.
"It's a matter of putting the ball in the fairway," Kinker said. "Scores are out there. The course is soft (from rain Sunday). It was probably a little bit of nerves, too." Kinker hit just four fairways.
The one highlight came at No. 3 when Kinker's approach nearly went into the hole. He tapped in for birdie from an inch away. On the back nine, he parred five of the final six holes.
"I've got to the driver in play," the Barboursville resident and Cabell Midland graduate said. "I know nothing about No. 4 except what I'm looking at on the card. I know I've got to go under par or be even. If I'm over, I'm coming home. I feel I can do it."
