Malone’s Matthew McClean opened with a level par 71 in the Azalea Invitational at the Country Club of Charleston in South Carolina as he counts down to the Masters.

He lies tied 22nd with England’s Luke Poulter, son of Ryder Cup star Ian Poulter, five strokes behind PJ Maybank III, who carded a five-under 66 to lead by one stroke behind Bryce Hanstad and Andy Mao.

Scores

The reigning US Mid-Amateur champion birdied the fourth and fifth, then followed a bogey at the seventh with a birdie at the ninth to turn in two-under par. But he bogeyed the par-three 11th and the par-five 15th to slip back down the leaderboard.

The top 60 and ties after today’s second round will make the cut in a 72-hole event that has been won by the likes of Dick Siderowf, George Burns, Ken Green, Webb Simpson, Matthew NeSmith and Cole Hammer since it was first played in 1946.

McClean will be one of four Irish players competing at the Masters Tournament alongside Rory McIlroy, Shane Lowry and Seamus Power.

His US Mid-Amateur win over Hugh Foley at Erin Hills last year also earned him a place in the US Open, which will be played at The Los Angeles Country Club from June 15-18