Canada's Nick Taylor top qualifier at US Publinx

By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

NORMAN, Okla. — Nick Taylor of Abbotsford, B.C., earned the top seed in qualifying at the at the U.S. Amateur Public Links on Tuesday.

Taylor, who was the low amateur at last month's U.S. Open, shot a 1-under 70 on Tuesday and maintained first place in qualifying on the Jimmie Austin Golf Course on the University of Oklahoma campus.

Taylor shot a 66 in the first round of stroke-play.

Rickie Fowler of Oklahoma State was among three players who tied for second place, four strokes behind Taylor.

Defending champion Jack Newman of Des Moines, Iowa, missed the cut by one stroke after finishing at 8-over 150. He competed in the John Deere Classic over the weekend, then drove through the night to make it to Oklahoma for the first round of qualifying Monday.

The two others Canadians in the event failed to make the cut, although both had remarkably equal first and second-round outings.

Thomas Petts of Vancouver carded 75-76 for a two-round total of 151 while Beon Yeong Lee of Montreal carded 78-78 for a two-round total of 156.

The event was held over the 7,289-yard, par-71 Jimmie Austin OU Golf Club.

Taylor was in the first group off the tee at 7 a.m. on Tuesday and took advantage of calm early conditions before the swirling winds and searing heat battered the field throughout the day.

"The wind picked up after seven or eight holes," said Taylor. "What made it tough was the ball was spinning a little more in the wind and it was tough to get back at the holes. The wind definitely made it a little tougher."

Taylor, who is riding a hot streak this summer after finishing tied for 36th at the U.S. Open and a recent win at the Sahalee Players Championship, enters the match-play portion of the championship as the No. 1 seed.

The U.S. Amateur Public Links, established in 1922 for bona fide public course players as of Jan. 1, 2009, is one of 13 national championships conducted annually by the United States Golf Association, 10 of which are strictly for amateurs.