Max Homa Fires 68, Sits Just 2 Strokes Off the Pace at The Open in Liverpool

Collin Morikawa has four bogeys and a double-bogey while shooting a 2-over 73 in the opening round.

Max Homa bogeyed just one hole at Royal Liverpool Gold Course in Thursday’s opening round of the 151st Open on the way to carding a 3-under 68, leaving him just two strokes off the lead.

Homa is part of a five-way tie for seventh place, also included Wyndham Clark.

Collin Morikawa / Photo by Kyle Terada, USA Today

Fellow ex-Cal star Collin Morikawa, playing in the same group with Homa over the first two rounds, had a tougher day, especially on the back nine. He shot a 2-over 73 and is tied for 66th place.

There is a three-way tie for the top spot, including 22-year-old amateur Christo Lamprecht, a 6-foot-8 rising senior at Georgia Tech and a native of South Africa. Lamprecht, the world’s third-ranked amateur, had seven birdies to enter the clubhouse at 5-under 66.

"It's pretty surreal," Lamprecht said. "It's nice to see a lot of work behind the scenes pay off. It's something I haven't dreamt of yet, but it's pretty cool."

According to ESPN Stats and Information, Lamprecht is just the second amateur to enjoy at least a share of the lead after the opening round of The Open over the past 50 years. The other was Tom Lewis in 2011. Legendary Bobby Jones was the most recent amateur to lead after the first round at Royal Liverpool, in 1930.

Lamprecht is believed to be the tallest player to ever compete in The Open. He said his father is 6-4; his grandfather is 6-8; and his great-grandfather was 7 feet. "As a 50-year-old golfer, seeing a guy like him, he is pretty much like your basic nightmare," said Stewart Cink, who is tied with Homa for seventh place.

Lamprecht is tied with 32-year-old Brit Tommy Fleetwood, who is ranked No. 21 in the world but has no career victories, and 30-year-old Argentine Emiliano Grillo, who missed the cut here a year ago. Fleetwood, who grew up just 20 miles north of Hoylake, tied for sixth last weekend at the Scottish Open and tied for fourth at The Open last year at St. Andrews.

“I think you can't ask for more from the fans and the support,” Fleetwood said. “They were so great to me today.”

Rory McIlroy, who won The Open in 2014 - the last time it was played at Royal Liverpool - made two birdies over his final five holes to finish at even-par 71. Defending championship Cameron Smith is one back of McIlroy at 72.

Homa, 32, has won twice on the tour each of the past two seasons but still is seeking his first victory in a major. He missed the cut at The Open a year ago.

Homa had birdies on Nos. 4, 5, 10 and 11, missing a bogey-free round only because he carded a 4 on the par-3 ninth hole.

Morikawa, 26, won The Open two years ago when he shot 15 under par at Royal St. George’s Golf Club. But he has not won since and he didn’t get off to a great start this year.

He is part of a 26-way logjam for 66th place after matching four birdies with four bogeys but also carding a double-bogey 6 on the par-4 third hole. Still, Morikawa was at even par through nine holes before shooting plus-3 over the final nine.

One-time Cal player Byeong Hun An is part of the traffic jam involving Morikawa. His round of 73 included four bogeys.

Michael Kim, the fourth ex-Golden Bear in the field, is tied for 111th place at 4 over 75 after a double bogey on 18.

Cover photo of Max Homa by Kyle Terada, USA Today

Follow Jeff Faraudo of Cal Sports Report on Twitter: @jefffaraudo