Solid starts for McClean and Kennedy at U.S. Amateur

Matthew McClean and Max Kennedy are both on course to advance through the strokeplay section of the 2024 U.S. Amateur Championship in Minnesota after matching rounds of -2 on day one.

The only two Irishmen in the field, both McClean and Kennedy tackled the Chaska Town Course in round one and reigning Irish Amateur Open champion and former U.S. Mid-Am winner McClean made two birdies and a single bogey on his outward nine after starting on the 10th. Eight pars on the front side were followed by a closing birdie on the par-5 ninth and he’s well placed in a tie for 24th.

Kennedy was also playing the Chaska Course and starting on the 10th, albeit almost two hours later, but he got off to a much slower start with two bogeys in his opening six holes, but three successive birdies from 16 through 18 saw him turn in red figures and two more birdies on the front with just the one dropped shot saw him join his fellow countryman.

Day two sees them move over to Hazeltine which proved to be the more difficult of the two courses on day one with just three of the best 23 scores coming at the 2016 Ryder Cup host venue.

Once again, McClean will be first out of the duo as he gets round two underway from the first at 6:52 pm Irish time, with Kennedy following an hour later at 7:58.