Bryan, Putnam tied for lead after first round of U.S. Amateur

PINEHURST, N.C. -- A whirlwind of a month is almost over for Danny Lee.

First, he became only the sixth player in the 106-year history of the Western Amateur to sweep medalist and match play honors, joining a group that includes Phil Mickelson and Curtis Strange.

Then came a tie for 20th over the weekend in his PGA Tour debut at the Wyndham Championship. Those performances leave the 18-year-old player from New Zealand as one of the favorites in the U.S. Amateur at Pinehurst, where he opened with a 1-over 71 in the opening round of stroke play Monday.

Can his confidence level get any higher?

"It actually doesn't stop," he said. "It goes up and up."

The 312-player field is split between Pinehurst's No. 2 and No. 4 courses.

The low 64 scores after the second round will advance to match play, and a 36-hole championship match is scheduled for Sunday.

Heavy rain a day earlier left both courses playing a bit easier than usual, with approach shots landing softly and holding instead of skittering across the green. That was the case for Wesley Bryan, who posted a 3-under 67 on No. 2 to lead the morning groups.

Andrew Putnam later matched Bryan's score on No. 4. Barden Berry (No. 2), Isaiah Telles (No. 4) and Matt Cook (No. 4) were a stroke back after 68s in the morning. Sihwan Kim (No. 2), David McDaniel (No. 4) and Jeff Edelman (No. 4) tied that score in the afternoon.

Two of the tournament favorites, Kevin Tway and Jamie Lovemark, struggled. Tway, whose father, former PGA champion Bob Tway, was on his bag, had three bogeys in his final six holes to shoot 73 on No. 2. Lovemark was one stroke worse at 74 on No. 4.