Augusta, Ga.—Clemson sophomore Doc Redman shot a four-over-par 76 in the opening round of the 2018 Masters and stands in a tie for 62nd place out of 87 players entering Friday’s second round at the famed Augusta National Golf Club.  Former Clemson All-American Kyle Stanley had an even par 72 and stands in 21st place.

Redman had two birdies and six bogeys on the day while playing with reigning Masters Champion Sergio Garcia and reigning PGA Champion Justin Thomas.   Redman beat Garcia by five shots and was just two shots short of Thomas’s two over par 74.  Thomas is ranked No. 2 in the world and Garcia is No. 7.

Redman got off to a great start as he played the first seven holes in even par and was on the leader boards displayed over the Augusta National Course for over three hours.  The native of Raleigh, NC was closest to the pin in his group with his approach to the green on each of the first four holes.  

Redman played the first three holes at one under par as he had birdie putts of eight feet or closer on each hole.  He rimmed out a birdie putt on one from eight feet, missed a five footer with a strong break on number-two, then made a four-footer for birdie on the  third hole.   

Redman hit a rough stretch on holes 8-11, as he bogeyed three of the four holes to go to three over par.   But, he regained his momentum on the 12th hole with a par and had his second birdie of the day on 13.

After hitting his drive close to Ray’s Creek on the left of the fairway on the 13th hole, he struck a six iron 195 yards to within eight feet of the pin on the par five hole, giving him a strong look at eagle.  He missed the putt, but made a tap-in for the birdie.

Redman made par on 14 by getting up and down from just off the back of the green, then got up and down from in front of the green on 15.    Redman and thousands of fans watched in disbelief  as defending champion Garcia hit five consecutive balls in the water in front of the green to make a 13 on the hole.

Redman then three-putted the 16th hole from 10 feet and made bogey out of the bunker in front of the green on 17 to go  to four over par.  He made a par on the 18thhole, something the eluded many golfers on Thursday.

“Today was a lot of fun,” said Redman after the round to the media gathered near the famous large tree behind the 18th green.  “But, this was not the result I wanted.  I think I threw away a good round, and that was frustrating.  But, come tomorrow I will try and build on some good stuff and shoot a good score.

“I was pretty nervous on the first hold, but I was able to lock in and hit a pretty good first shot.  I think that made a difference.  I was comfortable from then on.   Overall I don’t think nerves were a factory.

“I hit some good shots to the green the first three holes, and should have been three under par for the first three holes.  But, I just didn’t make the putts.”

Redman’s pursuit to become just the second amateur from Clemson top make the cut at the Masters on Friday when he tees off at 1:38 p.m. with Garcia and Thomas.

Clemson, S.C.—Former Clemson All-American Kyle Stanley made the cut at the 2018 Masters with  a  round pf74 on Friday.  Current Clemson sophomore Doc Redman had a second round 77 and missed the cut.

Stanley has had rounds of 72 and 74 for a 146 total through 36 holes and is tied for 28th place in the field of 87 golfers.  He is one of 53 golfers who made the cut, which was at five over par 149.  Stanley is the 11thgolfer with ties to Clemson to make the cut out of 28 total competitors.

Redman had rounds of 76-77 to finish with a 153 total, four shots above the cutline.   For the second straight day Redman shot a one over par 37 on the front nine and he was at five over par heading to the back nine.  Like Friday the native of Raleigh, NC had two birdies on the front, this time on the  par three sixth hole and the par four ninth hole.  

 But, like Thursday’s first round, Redman struggled on the 10th and 11th holes.  He had a double bogey on the 11th after a birdie on 10.   He played holes 8-11 on Thursday at three over par.

Redman’s dream of making the cut went by the boards on the 15th hole when he made a double bogey seven after hitting ball over the green in two, then hitting the ball in the water on his third shot.   

Redman did finish strong with a birdie on the par four 18th hole.  He hit his approach to 10 feet, then made the putt.    He finished his 36 holes at August with five birdies, 19 pars, 10 bogeys and two double bogeys.  

Redman finished tied for 69th in the field overall, he was tied for second among the six amateurs.

Stanley, who played for the Tigers from 2006-09 and finished second at the NCAA Tournament twice, is the first former Tiger to make the cut at the Masters since Lucas Glover in 2014.  Glover made that cut with a 144 total before finishing 42nd.

Like Redman, Stanley double bogeyed the 15th hole, then finished strong with a birdie on the 18th.  Stanley hit his approach on the 18th hole to within two inches of the hole.    Stanley finished with five birdies, 25 pars, five bogeys and one double bogey for his first 36 holes.

Stanley has been among the best on tour this year in hitting greens in regulation and he is second in that category through 36 holes, hitting 28 of 36 greens.   

Stanley made the cut in his second Masters appearance.  He missed the cut in 2012 after rounds of 75-76.  Stanley will play tomorrow with Francisco Molinari of Italy at  11:50 a.m.