Nick Taylor advances in U.S. Publinx

NORMAN, Okla., July 15 (UPI) -- Nick Taylor, who last month finished as the low amateur at the U.S. Open, won his opening-round match Wednesday at the U.S. Public Links Championship.

Taylor lost the opening hole, then stormed to a 6 & 4 victory over Craig Cyr at the University of Oklahoma's Jimmie Austin Golf Club. Taylor earned a second-round meeting with Munson, who was a 1-up winner over 2008 semifinalist David Johnson.

Rickie Fowler, a member of the American Walker Cup team two years ago, also moved on with a 5 & 4 decision over James Erkenbeck. Fowler was the winner of the 2008 Ben Hogan Award as the nation's leading collegiate golfer.

Phillip Bryan, the assistant golf coach of the Oklahoma Sooners, was a 2 & 1 winner over Braxton Marquez. Liam Logan, one of the players on Bryan's team at Oklahoma, also advanced by defeating Anders Albertson in 20 holes.

Defending champion Jack Newman failed to qualify for the match play portion of the championship.

Both the second and third rounds will be played Thursday with the quarterfinals and semifinals are set for Friday. The 36-hole title match will be played Saturday.

The winner will be one of five amateur players invited to next year's Masters. The other amateur qualifiers will be the winner and runner-up at the U.S. Amateur and the winners of the British Amateur and U.S. Mid-Amateur events.