COLUMBUS, Ohio – What a week it’s already been for Ohio State’s Neal Shipley, and it’s now extended two more days. The Buckeye grad student carded rounds of 71-76 over the first two days of The Masters Tournament and has made the cut.
Shipley made three birdies in his opening round on Thursday. On Friday, he got off to a hot start with birdies at Nos. 2 and 3. He would make the turn at even par for the day and like so many before him, would have a roller coaster ride on Augusta’s back nine. With the wind picking up and the course drying out, Shipley would take advantage of the two par-5s, Nos. 13 and 15, making a pair of birdies to keep his round on track. He finished with a 76, which was good enough to make the cut at 3-over par.
The Pittsburgh, Pa., native is the fourth Buckeye to make the cut while playing as an amateur. Jack Nicklaus wound up finishing tied for 13th as an amateur in 1960. John Cook made the cut and finished tied for 39th in 1979 and Clark Burroughs finished tied for 46th in 1984. Shipley starts Saturday’s third round in a tie for 30th.
Being the lone amateur to make the cut, Shipley will finish the week in famed Butler Cabin, one way or another. The champion as well as the low amateur are honored following the final round in Butler Cabin on Sunday evening. Shipley was asked after his round on Friday about his expectations for the week.
“I was certainly thinking about low amateur. I thought I had a chance to compete with all those guys and I thought I showed that yesterday. In those really tough conditions, to shoot 1-under, that I belong out here. It’s just kind of a matter of proving that.”
Shipley is paired with Patrick Cantlay for Saturday’s third round and the duo will begin at 12:15 p.m. Television coverage will run from 3-7 p.m. on CBS with featured coverage all day on Masters.com.
Ohio State Official Press Release
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