BANDON DUNES, Ore. – Derek Ackerman and Matt McCarty teamed up to post the best score in the opening 18 holes of the U.S. Amateur Four-Ball Championship.
Ackerman and McCarty carded an 8-under-par 63 in Saturday's opening round in the 128-duo field. They are tied with Ralph Blasey and Alex Nianouris, and John and Andrew Sajevic. Four other twosomes are only one shot back on the Bandon Dunes Resort course.
"It feels pretty good. We came into the round not knowing what to expect with the weather," Ackerman said. "We heard in the player's meetings that a 62 was out there and we were kind of thinking that when we got on a little bit of a run and made a few birdies on the front nine"
Ackerman and McCarty went 5-under on the opening nine holes of the format that features each golfer playing his own ball throughout, and the lower of the partners' scores counting.