Casey Watabu is a native of Kauai, which holds some of the best golf courses in the world. With those top ranked courses to practice on he elevated himself to a champion, winning last years 81st U.S. Amateur Public Links Championship.

Currently he is playing the 107th U.S. Amateur Championship in San Francisco. This match is a big one for the amateurs as the winner will receive and exemption into the 2008 U.S. Open and the British Open. An invitation to the 2008 Masters Tournament is also likely as long as the winner remains an amateur. There is also a 10 year exemption into the U.S. Amateur field for as long as the winner stays an amateur.

For the first round on Monday Watabu shot a 9-over landing 11 shots behind the leader. He had four bogeys, a double bogey and a triple bogey.

The play will continue through Sunday with the field reduced after today’s round to the 64 lowest scorers. The matches are all 18 holes, except for the final match which will be 36 holes.