Harold Varner III earns some crystal with ‘awesome’ Amen Corner moment at Masters

Harold Varner III won’t walk away from Augusta National empty handed this weekend.

With what he described as an “awesome” moment at Amen Corner, the Gastonia native earned himself some crystal Thursday in his debut round at the Masters Tournament.

After carding a 1-under-par 71 in the first round of the 86th Masters, the 31-year-old East Carolina alum is in position to earn more. He's within four shots of the lead ahead of Friday’s second round.

The shot that shifted Thursday's round occurred on the par-5 13th hole. After hitting his drive into the pine straw to the right of the fairway, Varner made a Masters memory.

'Best attitude on Tour': Harold Varner III carries fan favorite potential to Masters debut

He nearly holed out from roughly 227 yards for an albatross before rolling in a kick-in eagle to spark a strong finish.

“I hit a 4-iron and it went to a foot. It was awesome,” Varner said.

From 1954-62, anyone making an eagle received a crystal highball glass. From 1963-2011, a pair of crystal goblets was awarded. With crystal highball glasses back in the mix among the tournament awards, Varner will soon have two of his own to take home.

“Didn’t really think about that, but yeah, it was an eagle. I like making eagles,” he said with a smile.

Sitting at 3 over after a bogey on the par-3 12th, Varner followed his eagle at 13 with two more birdies over his final five holes to move into red figures and a tie for 10th.

“I was trying to make birdies on every hole,” said Varner, who rolled in a 42-foot birdie putt on the par-3 16th.

“When you see 4 or 5 under’s leading and you’re sitting at even par, you’re just trying to birdie the next hole.”

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On the first nine, Varner had four bogeys and a pair of birdies to make the turn at 2 over. He didn't let it faze him.

“I never tried to press and, obviously, holed some putts and hit a great shot on 13, which was awesome,” he said, referencing his ability to keep things in perspective.

After Varner put a bow on his round with a par on the 18th, a patron yelled, ‘Hell yeah, Harold.”

All smiles as he walked off the green, Varner will try to carry that momentum into Friday. He's set to tee off at 9:50 a.m.

“I finished really well, so that was good. But I felt like I was playing well when I got here, so you just gotta keep playing,” he said.

“I think good things are going to happen, always, so just hang around.”

Staff writer Rodd Baxley can be reached at rbaxley@fayobserver.com.

This article originally appeared on The Gaston Gazette: Harold Varner III closes strong in debut at Masters tournament