Texas senior Doug Ghim wraps up amateur honors by making Masters cut

An unforgettable week at Augusta National Golf Club got even better Friday for amateur Doug Ghim.

The senior from the University of Texas shot a 4-over-par 76 and made the cut to earn a spot in the weekend for the 82nd Masters Tournament.

Ghim was the only amateur to make the cut, and will be in Butler Cabin on Sunday evening to receive the Silver Cup as the low amateur when this year’s champion puts on the green jacket.

“I fought … I did everything I could to make sure I didn’t get down on myself because that’s what this golf course wants you to do,” said Ghim, who qualified as the runner-up at the 2017 U.S. Amateur. “I felt like I did the best that I could to stay focused, stay positive and just try to stick it through.”

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Ghim opened with a double bogey on the first hole, but battled back with birdies at No. 2 and No. 3. He had another double on the par-3 sixth hole, but settled down to shoot par on the back nine, thanks to a 20-foot birdie putt from off the back right fringe on No. 16.

“The putt on 16 was huge … That thing was kind of motoring, but it hit dead center," he said. "It was a big relief to be at 4-over instead five headed into the last two holes.”

Ghim had to play the waiting game after finishing his round around lunch time, but he was confident.

“I don’t want to jinx myself, but I think I’m in pretty good shape,” said Ghim, 21. “I just hope my number is called tomorrow. It would be a blessing to play the weekend.”

That hope became a reality by the end of the day, and Ghim will be back with his father, Jeff, on his bag to make some more memories.

Other competitors head out

U.S. Amateur champion Doc Redman didn’t play as well as he wanted to, but he hit a 9-iron to about six feet and birdied the 18th hole as his Clemson fan-base cheered him on. Redman shot 77 and missed the cut at 9-over par.

“it was such an honor to be able to play here,” said Redman, who also will play on the PGA Tour’s next stop – the RBC Heritage in Hilton Head next week. “I had a great time playing with Sergio (Garcia) and Justin (Thomas). I think I learned a lot and will be better off for it.”

Joaquin Niemann of Chile, who qualified by winning the Latin America Amateur Championship, shot 77 and also finished at 9-over par. He finished strong, with birdies on Nos. 15, 17 and 18.

“Finishing with three birdies in the last four holes is pretty good. I just didn’t score so well at the beginning of the back nine,” said Niemann, 19. “I enjoyed my last tournament as an amateur and I can’t wait for what’s coming now.”

Niemann is set to play in the Valero Texas Open, his first professional event, later this month.

Matt Parziale, the 30-old firefighter from Brockton, Mass., didn’t play his best. But he overpowered the par-5 13th hole, hitting a 7-iron to about 15 feet and making eagle to earn a pair of crystal glasses.

“That was my one highlight from today,” said Parziale, who shot 79 and missed the cut at 16-over par. “But this week was a lot of fun. From the moment you walk in here, it’s special.”

His father Vic served as his caddie this week, and although the pair has played some top notch events in the past – the week at Augusta stood out.

“Everything was super,” Vic said,  in his heavy Boston accent. “There’s been nothing like it ever. I’ll remember the first tee shot on both days, when they called out Matt’s name. He blasted both shots down the fairway, he smoked them.”

Parziale plans to play in the U.S. Open, the U.S. Amateur and try to defend his title in the U.S. Mid-Amateur in September.

Harry Ellis, the British Amateur champion and a senior at Florida State, shot 80 and finished at 22-over par. But he birdied the 18th and shot 37 on the back nine.

“That was, for me, a proud way to finish off the last seven,” said Ellis, who played that span in 1-under par. “So I take a lot of focus from that, and what an incredible experience … That’s character building and something that I can use going forward now. It wasn’t the two days I wanted, but at the same time I got more out of it than I could ever imagine.”

Yuxin Lin of China, who qualified as the Asia-Pacific Amateur champion, also shot 80 and finished at 15-over par.