Campbell shoots -3 in first round of U.S. Open

Brian Campbell of Irvine is the low amateur after the first round of the U.S. Open at Chambers Bay Golf Course in University Place, Wash.

The 22-year-old, who prepped at Mater Dei and grew up playing at Mesa Verde Country Club where his parents are members, shot a 3-under-par 67 Thursday and tied for fourth, two shots behind the lead.

Jake Knapp of Costa Mesa eagled the final hole to finish four-over 74, tied for 98th.

“It really hasn’t hit me yet,” Campbell said during a phone interview, referring to being so high on the leaderboard. “I’m really just thinking of this as any other tournament. It’s nice to be up there. I’m going to try to get after it with the same mindset.”

And, what would that mindset be? Campbell said he entered the U.S. Open with no expectations.

“I knew I had a good game plan,” Campbell said. “I just went out and hit my shots and played well. It turned out to be a nice round.”

Campbell, a recent graduate of University of Illinois, collected four birdies on the back nine to begin, as he started on No. 10 at 3 p.m. He recovered from back-to-back bogeys on hole Nos. 3 and 4 with birdies on 5 and 6.

He double-bogeyed his 17th hole, No. 7, but birdied No. 8 to get back to 3-under.

Campbell said he is “feeling great” after the first round. Last year he missed the cut by one stroke to play on the weekend. He begins on No. 1 at 9:01 a.m. on Friday.

“I’m just doing my thing,” said Campbell, who is playing in his second straight U.S. Open. “I’m staying calm out there. Calm and confident.”

Knapp didn’t have any birdies, playing in his first U.S. Open. But the former Estancia High standout, who will be a senior at UCLA, finished strong.

He said he had a great drive on No. 18 (par 5, 604 yards), and also finished with his best approach shot of the day. His eagle putt came from about 20 feet out. It was the only eagle on 18 of the day.

“It was a tough day with no birdies,” Knapp said during a phone interview. “I have a lot of momentum going into [Friday], playing at 9 a.m. I am looking to carry it over and get off to a good start.

Knapp said the first round of his first U.S. Open “was exciting, to say the least.”

He was also a bit nervous, and did his best to stay calm after what he called a long morning, waiting to play at 3 p.m.

Knapp struggled to open the back nine, as he went bogey-double bogey-bogey on 10, 11, 12. But he finished strong with par on 13-17 before his eagle.

“I was happy with it,” Knapp said of the first round. “I have to be aware of how I handle 10, 11 and 12 ... I feel great about [Friday]. I think I am hitting the ball well. I have to make some birdies. I think if I can drive the ball well, I will be in a good position to play well.”

— compiled by Steve Virgen