Meet the Masters amateur’s of 2019, and their chances at the Low Am title
By Jordan Perez
![AUGUSTA, GEORGIA - APRIL 10: Amateur Viktor Hovland of Norway lines up a putt during the Par 3 Contest prior to the Masters at Augusta National Golf Club on April 10, 2019 in Augusta, Georgia. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images) AUGUSTA, GEORGIA - APRIL 10: Amateur Viktor Hovland of Norway lines up a putt during the Par 3 Contest prior to the Masters at Augusta National Golf Club on April 10, 2019 in Augusta, Georgia. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)](https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/c_fill,w_720,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto/shape/cover/sport/c44e93f9f842aca9d8c20cf87ecbe575aaf8b0e59fa89dc69ec43dfac957da91.jpg)
4.) Devon Bling and 3.) Alvaro Ortiz
The U.S. Amateur runner-up and UCLA sophomore has wowed the field early with his ace at No. 7 at the Par 3 Contest.
Devon Bling’s mother dreamed of watching him play at the Masters. Sadly, she died suddenly in 2013.
— CBS Sports (@CBSSports) April 10, 2019
In his first Masters Par 3 Contest, Devon, a 19-year-old from UCLA, may have had some help as he aced the 7th hole. pic.twitter.com/4MZlDfhZ2f
Bling hasn’t had the hottest of individual finishes up until recently, when UCLA crushed the field at the SeattleU Redhawk Invitational, placing second individually at 11-under, two strokes behind teammate Hideto Yoshihara’s 13-under finish. The 19-year-old is the youngest amateur competing, with plenty of time left in his collegiate career. But the ace on No. 7 gives credence to good things to come for the young golfer this week.
Meanwhile, Ortiz, a former Arkansas Razorback, bestows the honor of being the first Mexican to compete at Augusta in 40 years. He’s had an interesting journey to Augusta, having finished second twice at the Latin American Amateur before claiming the title in this year’s edition.
The defending champion is a year removed from college, and has spent much of his time competing in Mexico, with two recent back-first-place place finishes. Ortiz has played some tough golf, and is serious about his run at Augusta. He’s visited the course five times ahead of the big week in preparation, dissecting every aspect of the course and playing to his heart’s content for his appearance this week.