Jax Beach resident Miles Russell fires 2 over in first U.S. Open appearance

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Miles Russell made it through his first round at the U.S. Open still very much in the mix.

The 17-year-old Jacksonville Beach resident carded a 2-over 74 in his first round of his first major golf championship on Thursday at Shinnecock Hills. Russell is one of the 20 amateur golfers in the event, a record for the U.S. Open.

Russell said last week that the key to success at the challenging Shinnecock Hills was boring golf; hitting the fairways and keeping the ball in the mix for pars and the ability to scratch out birdies.

Russell managed just one birdie on Thursday, a 9 1/2 -foot putt on No. 6 that was set up by one of his best approaches of the day. He wasn't as strong on the greens as he needed to be. Russell two-putted from 23 feet on No. 4 for a bogey and two-putted on the par-3 No. 7 hole from 12 feet.

Russell played the back nine at 1 over.