What reigning U.S. Amateur champion Sam Bennett is playing for as Masters continues Sunday

AUGUSTA, Ga. — Sam Bennett has captured the imagination of the patrons at Augusta National Golf Club this week, as the reigning U.S. Amateur champion remained near the top of the leaderboard when play was halted in the third round of the Masters on Saturday.

The Texas A&M senior sits at 6-under par, in third place — seven strokes behind leader Brooks Koepka, who is playing in his group along with Spain’s Jon Rahm.

The trio is on the seventh green, and Bennett is looking at a seven footer to save par. The 23-year old has already secured the Silver Cup as low amateur, as the only one from the group of seven to make the cut at the 87th Masters, but he has a lot more to play for over the final 30 holes.

Masters 2023 leaderboard: Get the latest news from Augusta

Bennett said the weather didn’t bother him. He was asked whether it was the hardest conditions he had ever played in.

“No, in college golf, you play through it all,” Bennett said Saturday. “I’m just trying to enjoy it. I feel comfortable out there. The bogeys on 1 and 2 weren’t because of nerves. They were simply just bad swings. Hopefully the (Sunday) weather, it’s sunny, and the course is going to be soft. So I think it’s going to be gettable. I’m guessing we’re going to still have to play it down since we started playing it down, which might be a little tough. I’m sure there’s going to be some mud balls out there.”

On Friday, Bennett made the rare appearance by an amateur in the Interview Room and said his expectations had changed after shooting 68-68—136 to stand in third place after the first two rounds.

“I don’t hit it far like (fellow amateur Gordon) Sargent. I don’t have 190 ball speed. I don’t have a pretty swing like some of the other amateurs. It’s golf, not a golf swing. I’ve done the right things this week. I was prepared. I was more experienced than the other guys, and yeah, here I sit here with a chance to go on the weekend and do something special.”

Winning a green jacket might be a bit of a stretch as Bennett trails Koepka, a four-time major winner, by seven. But there are plenty of things to play for.

Sam Bennett in position for Masters amateur history

Bennett is in a good position to finish in the top 12 and secure an invite to the 2024 Masters. He didn’t have a bogey in the first round — becoming the first amateur to do that since Donald C. Allen in 1965.

Here are Masters amateur scoring records

Bennett’s 136 over the first two rounds was the second best behind the late Ken Venturi, who shot 135 (66-69) back in 1956, when he had the best performance ever by an amateur at the Masters — finishing second, a stroke behind Jack Burke Jr.

Bennett’s 68 Friday tied the mark for the best second round score by an amateur set by Marvin Ward way back in 1940.

Bennett bogeyed his first two holes in the third round Saturday, but settled down with four straight pars to remain at 6 under.

He has a good shot to beat the low 72-hole score by an amateur of 7 under par 281 (72-71-69-69) set by Charles R. Coe in 1961.

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