Bryson DeChambeau leads amateurs after first round

Bryson DeChambeau is the top-ranked amateur golfer in the world, but earlier this week in the media center he came off like a seasoned professional.

DeChambeau, the 22-year-old U.S. Amateur champion, carried that swagger into his first competitive round at Au­gusta National Golf Club. Playing like a cagey veteran in blustery conditions, he fired an even-par 72 on Thursday to finish tied for 21st.

The former Southern Meth­o­dist star played with Jor­­dan Spieth and Paul Ca­sey, but he wasn’t flustered at the first tee.

“I wasn’t nervous at all,” said DeChambeau, who had a birdie on No. 2 and a bogey on No. 15, along with 16 pars. “I had some adrenaline going, but I stepped up there and striped it right down the left center. Most people, I guess, say they’re nervous. And look, as I’ve been saved by grace, it doesn’t matter. This is just another golf shot out there.”

ROMAIN LANGASQUE of France is ready to give De­Chambeau some competition for the silver cup awarded to the low amateur who makes the cut. Langasque was even par on the front nine and had bogeys on No. 16 and No. 17 to come in at 74.

“There was a little pressure at the start, but my chipping and putting were really good today,” said Langasque, a 20-year-old who qualified as the British Amateur champion. “That put me in a good rhythm, and I played well.”

DEREK BARD, who qualified as the runner-up at the U.S. Amateur, enjoyed his first competitive round at Augusta with his brother Alec on his bag. He birdied Nos. 2 and 12 and finished at 4-over-par 76.

“We had a special week so far,” Bard said of teaming up with Alec. “He knows me really well; he knows my game and how I think. To have somebody on that level to carry the bag, it was huge. And that’s something I’ll never forget.”

The Univer­sity of Virginia senior has the Atlantic Coast Con­ference tournament coming up in a couple of weeks, an event that should seem like a piece of cake compared to the pressure of his first Mas­ters.

“I knew it was going to be new for me, just playing in front of all the people,” said Bard, 20. “Just being on the first tee at the Masters, that’s kind of a surreal feeling.”

CHINA’S CHENG JIN got off to a rough start with a double bogey on the first hole and finished with 79, despite making four birdies. The 18-year-old qualified by winning the Asia-Pacific Amateur Championship.

“It was a little challenging with the wind,” he said. “My driver wasn’t that good because I was nervous. I’m a little disappointed, but I enjoyed the experience playing with Zach (Johnson) and Rickie (Fowler).”

SAMMY SCHMITZ, who qualified as the Mid-Amateur champion, had a solid start shooting 36 on the front nine, but he was 6-over on the next four holes and finished with 81. The 35-year-old from Wisconsin kept things in perspective in his first appearance at Augusta.

“I tried to pump myself up on the first tee, but today it counts and I was a little bit more nervous,” Schmitz said with a laugh. “If you’re not nervous, good for you; you must be a surgeon or something. I’m going to go home, have a beer and grill with friends tonight. It’s nice to be able to share the experience with my family and friends. I definitely don’t feel bad about shooting 81 today.”

PAUL CHAPLET, the Latin Ame­rica Amateur champion, is the youngest player in the field at 16. The Costa Rican started playing golf five years ago, with a bag that included just five clubs. He shot 83 without a birdie Thursday.

“It was different today. When you play practice rounds you’re pretty relaxed,” he said. “My confidence level was not where I usually have it because I’m not used to being watched by thousands of people in the gallery and millions of people worldwide on TV.

“But I’m taking only pluses from this round. I played with Mark O’Meara, and he told me not to worry, that I’m just 16. I can’t expect to do what someone like Jordan Spieth is doing. He has three or four years’ experience and this is my first time. I just have to take the steps.”