Former Missouri golfer Peter Malnati opened the U.S. Amateur Championship Monday with a first-round 5-over 75. Malnati is looking to build on his impressive victory in the Tennessee Amateur State Championship on August 7.
The 109th U.S. Amateur Championship, being held at Southern Hills Country Club in Tulsa, Okla., consists of two days of stroke play with the second starting Tuesday. The 64 golfers who make the cut then switch to a match-play format that runs from Wednesday until Sunday.
The first round ended Monday with Malnati tied for 88th. The leader stands at two-under-par. Malnati's win in Tennessee came on the same course Tiger Woods won his NCAA Championship in 1996. Woods shot a 285. Malnati outdid Woods, posting a 12-under 276.
Malnati was a significant contributor in each of his four years at Missouri. He concluded his collegiate career in May, placing 21st in the NCAA Regional.