There were plenty of low scores posted in Saturday’s opening round of qualifying for the U.S. Amateur Four-Ball being played at Kiawah Island Club’s Cassique and River Course. Leading the way were Kevin Grady of Catonsville, Md., and Andrew Sovero combined for a 10-birdie, 10-under-par 61 at Cassique.
Two teams carded 62s. Joseph Deraney of Tupelo, Miss., and partner Garrett Rank of Canada, shot 9-under at the River Course while Jeffrey Forster and Teddy Vigna, both of Santa Barbara, Calif., notched their 62 at Cassique.
A field of 128 two-man teams is competing in the qualifying portion. The players switch courses for Sunday’s round, with the top 32 advancing into match play which begins Monday and wraps up Wednesday.
Matthew Doyle of Summerville and partner Garrett Risner of Holly Springs, N.C. are tied for eighth after shooting 64 at Cassique.
Todd White of Spartanburg and four-time U.S. Mid-Amateur champion Nathan Smith of Pittsburgh are tied for 15th after a 65 at Cassique.
Former Dallas Cowboys quarterback and current CBS golf analyst Tony Romo and his partner, University of Texas golfer Tommy Morrison, shot 67 at Cassique and are tied for 33rd.
Former Clemson golfers Stephen Behr Jr. of Atlanta and John Engler of Augusta, Ga., are well off the pace after shooting 78 at the River Course.
Leaders
(Top 32 after opening round; C – Cassique, R – River Course)
Kevin Grady-Andrew Sover (C), 61; Joseph Deraney-Garrett Rank (R), 62; Jeffrey Forster-Teddy Vigna (C), 62; Bradford Tilley-Pat Wilson (C), 63; Torey Edwards-Bret Parker (C), 63; Nathan Cogswell-Colt Sherrell (C), 63; Chip Brooke-Marc Dull (C), 63; Matthew Doyle-Garrett Risner (C), 64; Tyler Goecke-Bryce Haney (C), 64; Cullen Brasfield-Ryan Wilkins (C), 64; Carter Loflin-Wells Williams (R), 64; Drew Evans-Brad Mason (C), 64; Jack Irons-Troy Vannucci (C), 64; Adam Miller-Mason Snyder (C), 64; Marc France-Carl Santos-Ocampo (C), 65; Nathan Smith-Todd White (C), 65; Evan Beck-Dan Walters (R), 65; Corey Matthey-Samuel Storey (C), 65; Aaron Du-Sampsonyunhe Zheng (R), 65; Maxwell Lange-Hunter Swanson (C) 65; Sam Braver-Ben Klaus (C), 65; Michael Harrington-Dylan Wonnacott (C), 66; Christopher Baloga-Will Wears (C), 66; Elliott Bunyaviroch-Davis McDowell (C), 66; John Hayes-Reese McFarlane (C), 66; Calum Hill-Conner Kumpula (C), 66; Lee Knox-Bobby Wyatt (C), 66; Scott Harvey-Todd Mitchell (C), 66; John Ramsey-Chadd Slutzky (C), 66; John Eades-Matt Schall (R), 66; Evan Russell-Travis Russell (C), 66.