Aug. 13, 2012

CHERRY HILLS VILLAGE, Colo. — South Carolina junior Blaine Woodruff posted an opening-round 68 (-2) on Monday to position himself inside the top 20 at the 2012 U.S. Amateur Championship in Cherry Hills Village, Colo., while Gamecock senior Dean Hester had an up and down day on his way to a round of 80 (+10).

Woodruff, who played at the Common Ground Golf Course, finished the day in a tie for 19th and is in the hunt to make the cut for match play, as the top 64 golfers will advance after the final round of stroke play on Tuesday. Woodruff is five strokes behind championship leader Bobby Wyatt, who turned in a 7-under 64 at Cherry Hills Country Club.

A native of Acworth, Ga., Woodruff recorded four birdies, two bogeys and 12 pars for one of his best rounds of the summer.

Hester, who is a native of Dublin, Ga., will head into the second round in a tie for 286th. He was plagued by a triple bogey on hole No. 7 and a double on the ninth on his way to a 44 (+8) on the front side but he rebounded to shoot a 36 (+2) on the back nine.

The second round is scheduled to begin at 7 a.m. MDT on Tuesday with Woodruff teeing off in the second group of the day at Cherry Hills Country Club. Hester will play the same course beginning at 7:40. Scoring updates will be provided after nine holes by clicking here.