In Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, University of New Mexico senior golfer Gavin Green has some work to do.
Green, stepping up against the professionals this week, shot a 2-over-par 74 opening in the opening round of the European Tour’s Maybank Malaysian Open and is tied for 79th place.
The Kuala Lumpur native is eight strokes behind co-leaders Lee Westwood and Graeme McDowell, the No. 39- and No. 13-ranked PGA players in the world, respectively. The pair shot 6-under 66.
Westwood is the defending champion.
Green, the No. 6-ranked world amateur golfer who tied for 22nd in this event in 2013 and tied for 47th last year, bogeyed the first and fifth holes before getting a birdie back on No. 6. He stayed there until a bogey on No. 17 put him back at 2-over.
Lobo coach Glen Millican is serving as his caddy for the event this week. His younger brother, Galven, is tied for 103rd with a 4-over 76.
Green is scheduled to tee off at 1:20 p.m. local time on Friday.
The 26th-ranked Lobos are back in action Feb. 18-20 at the John Burns Intercollegiate, in Kauai, Hawaii.