VILLAGE OF PINEHURST, N.C. ? Erik Barnes, rising Austin Peay State University junior golfer, fired a one-over 71 to sit in a 36th-place tie after opening-round play in the 108th  U.S. Amateur, being played at Pinehurst Resort & Country Club.  

The championship's 36-hole stroke play will conclude Tuesday. The field will be cut to low 64 players for match play after Tuesday's round.  Match play begins on Wednesday and continues until the 36-hole final on Sunday.

Barnes has no room for comfort. He is one of 27 players tied for 36th place with 27 more tied for 63rd at two over 72.

Half of Monday's field played Pinehurst No. 2 while the other half performed on Pinehurst No. 4, including Barnes.  He opened with a par before bogeying the next two holes and double-bogeying No. 4. But he closed out the front nine by tallying birdies on six, eight and nine, for a one-over 36.

On the back nine, Barnes, got it back to even with a birdie on No. 11 but then bogeyed three of the next four holes to go three over. But Barnes saved his round on No. 17. He eagled the par-5, 543-yard hole.

Wesley Bryan, of Chapin, S.C., and Andrew Putnam, of University Place, Wash., each shot three-under-par 67 to sit in a first-place tie. Six other golfers are just one stroke back.

 The Marion, Ind., native is one of 312 amateurs who is vying for the championship at the prestigious golf resort. The Marion, Ind., native earned his way by shooting 70-72 for a 142 total in early August to finish second in the regional qualifier, played at the Lancaster County Club in Lancaster, Ohio.

This is the second straight year Barnes has qualified for the U.S. Amateur. Barnes played in the 107th U.S. Amateur at the Olympic Course in San Francisco. However, he was unable to advance from stroke play.

-AP-