Chilean Rookie Niemann Upstages World's Best To Share Lead

Dublin, United States, June 1 (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 1st Jun, 2018 ) :Chilean rookie Joaquin Niemann brilliantly upstaged the world's best golfers Thursday to share the lead on the day one of the US PGA's Memorial.

The 19-year-old signed for a sizzling six-under par 65 to be tied atop the leaderboard with Texas-based Mexican Abraham Ancer and Japan's Hideki Matsuyama in the Jack Nicklaus hosted event.

Santiago-born Niemann turned professional straight after April's Masters, where he played courtesy of his victory in the Latin Amateur Championship.

Niemann was the number-one ranked amateur golfer in the world from May 2017 through the Masters, his amateur resume including victories in six Chilean prof events.

As a non-member of the US PGA Tour Niemann was allowed seven invitation starts as he tries to earn temporary tour membership.

In four so far his best finish was a share of sixth at the Texas Open. He missed the cut in the Wells Fargo Championship and the AT&T Bryon Nelson but shot closing round scores of 65 and 66 to share eighth place in last week's Fort Worth Invitational.

"I have been playing really well, so my game is feeling really nice," Niemann said. "Two of those were top-10s, so I have gained a lot of confidence in my game and I feel able to be out here and play good golf."The two top-10 finishes have also earned him more chances to secure his status, since they gained him entry to the following week's events without counting toward his seven exemptions.

While Niemann forfeited automatic entry into the upcoming US Open and the Open Championship at Carnoustie in July by turning pro, he has banked $429,100 in the two events in which he's played all four rounds.

Should Niemann reach 365 non-PGA member points, and the equivalent of No. 125 on the 2017-18 money list, it would secure his tour card for the 2018-19 season.

Niemann, ranked 406th in the world, is more interested in just playing good golf.