Ryan Trask of Napa opened the U.S. Amateur Championship Monday by shooting an 81 on the No. 2 course at Pinehurst Resort & Country Club in Pinehurst, N.C.

Trask, a Napa High School graduate who also played golf for Napa Valley College and Chico State, had nines of 42 and 39. The No. 2 course is set up at 7,281 yards and is par 70.

The U.S. Golf Association event, featuring 312 players, continues all week in the Village of Pinehurst, N.C. The field will be cut to the low 64 golfers following 36-hole stroke play qualifying today. Match play begins Aug. 20 and concludes with the 36-hole final on Aug. 24. All match play rounds will be played at the No. 2 course.

Trask, who recently wrapped up his Chico State golf career, qualified for the U.S. Amateur late last month by winning a playoff hole to finish second at the sectional qualifying tournament at Butte Creek Country Club in Chico. After carding rounds of 68 and 71, Trask rolled home an eight-foot birdie putt on the opening playoff hole to beat UNLV senior Matt Kinsinger for the final qualifying spot.

Sharing the early lead in qualifying yesterday were Andrew Putnam of University Place, Wash. (32-35 — 67) and Wesley Bryan of Chapin, S.C. (33-34 — 67). The range of scores was from 67 to 87.

Golfers are also playing Pinehurst No. 4, a par-70, 7,030-yard layout.

The U.S. Amateur is open to amateur golfers who have a USGA handicap Index not exceeding 2.4. Sectional qualifying was conducted over 36 holes at 101 sites from July 21 to Aug. 5.

The champion receives an exemption into the 2009 U.S. Open and British Open, and a probable invitation to play in the 2009 Masters Tournament, if he remains an amateur. He also receives a 10-year exemption into the U.S. Amateur field so long as he remains an amateur.Napa’s Trask cards an 81