Neal Shipley Claims Silver Cup Amateur Victory At The Masters

The American carded rounds of 71 and 76 to make the cut comfortably, the only amateur to do so, as he picked up the Silver Cup

Neal Shipley watches his approach shot
(Image credit: Getty Images)
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There have been many huge names to claim the Silver Cup at Augusta National and, on Friday, Neal Shipley added his name to that list, with the American carding rounds of 71 and 76 to be the only amateur to make it into the weekend.

Conditions during the second round were brutal, to say the least, as the wind swirled and reached over 25 miles-per-hour. However, Shipley kept his cool to make the cut at the Masters, with the 2023 US Amateur runner-up claiming the biggest amateur title of his career.

Having his high school teammate, Carter Pitcairn, on the bag, Shipley began the day as the only amateur under-par following a one-under 71 and, on a chaotic second day, the 22-year-old held his cool to leave his competitors in the dust.

Birdieing two of his first three holes, he did bogey the fourth and seventh for a level-par front nine. Conditions were tough and, with a bogey at the 10th, double bogey at the 11th and a bogey at the 12th, you could be forgiven for thinking that Shipley would crumble in the situation.

The American, though, didn't and, with a birdie at the 13th and 15th, he played the remaining holes in level-par to card a four-over 76 and set a three-over-par tournament total.

Neal Shipley hits a tee shot and watches its flight

(Image credit: Getty Images)

His nearest challengers were Stewart Hagestad and The Open's Silver Medal winner, Christo Lamprecht but, with the duo struggling, both carded six-over-par rounds of 78. They both missed the cut by a number of shots, and handed the coveted title to Shipley.

Matt Cradock
Matt Cradock
Staff Writer

Matt joined Golf Monthly in February 2021 covering weekend news, before also transitioning to equipment and testing. After freelancing for Golf Monthly and The PGA for 18 months, he was offered a full-time position at the company in October 2022 and continues to cover weekend news and social media, as well as help look after Golf Monthly’s many buyers’ guides and equipment reviews.

Taking up the game when he was just seven years of age, Matt made it into his county squad just a year later and continues to play the game at a high standard, with a handicap of around 2-4. To date, his best round came in 2016, where he shot a six-under-par 66 having been seven-under through nine holes. He currently plays at Witney Lakes in Oxfordshire and his favourite player is Rory McIlroy, despite nearly being struck by his second shot at the 17th during the 2015 BMW PGA Championship.

Matt’s current What’s In The Bag?

Driver: Honma TW747, 8.75°

Fairway Wood: TaylorMade Rocketballz Stage 2, 15°, 19°

Hybrid: Adams Super Hybrid, 22°

Irons: Mizuno MP54, 5-PW

Wedges: Cleveland 588 RTX 2.0 Tour Satin, 50°, 56°, 60°

Putter: Cleveland TFI 2135 Satin Cero

Ball: Titleist Pro V1x

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