AUGUSTA, Ga. — Former Razorbacks Alvaro Ortiz and Andrew Landry will both advance to the weekend at The Masters.
Ortiz not only made the cut but is one of three amateurs to play on the weekend as he stands in a tie for 36th place, shooting rounds of 73-71 for an even-par total of 144 through 36 holes.
Landry sits in a tie for 46th place after rounds of 72-73 for a two-day total of 145 (+1).
Ortiz, who graduated from Arkansas in 2018, earned a berth to The Masters after winning the 2019 Latin America Amateur Championship.
Ortiz is one stroke behind Viktor Hovland for low amateur after 36 holes. Ortiz is additionally the first native of Mexico to advance to the weekend in 40 years when Victor Regalado tied for 31st (4-over par 292) in 1979.
Regalado also played in the 1975 Masters, tying for 30th (4-over par 292). The only other Mexican-born golfer to play at The Masters was Juan Antonio Estrada, who played at the major in 1962, ’63 and ’64.
Ortiz, playing with two-time Masters champion Bernhard Langer, was 1-under-par after three holes to start his second round. However, he had bogeys on holes 4. 6. 10 and 11.
After posting pars on the iconic 12th and 13th holes, Ortiz began his charge up the leaderboard, shooting 4-under-par over the last five holes. He started his run with a birdie on the par-5, 14th hole.
Ortiz followed that with an eagle on the par-5, 15th thanks to a 245-iron approach shot that left a five-foot eagle putt.
After pars on holes 16 and 17, Ortiz capped his round with a birdie on the 18th to card his 1-under-par 71.
Landry, a 2009 Arkansas graduate, qualified for The Masters after winning the 2018 Valero Texas Open. He was even par entering the day before shooting a 1-over 73 with 15 pars on Friday.
This is Landry’s first time playing in the Masters. His best finish in a major is tying for 15th in the 2016 U.S. Open.
