14-year-old from China closes with birdie for 79 - USA TODAY

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SAN FRANCISCO â€" Andy Zhang's week started like a dream.

By Ben Margot, AP

Andy Zhang closed his first round Thursday with a birdie and finished with a 79.

The 14-year-old from China earned a spot into the U.S. Open as an alternate, he met his idol (Tiger Woods), and he signed perhaps the first â€" of many to come â€" autographs.

Reality set in Thursday on the first hole at The Olympic Club in Round 1 of the national championship: triple-bogey 7, double-bogey 6, then bogey-bogey-bogey in his first five holes.

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But it got better from there: His first birdie at No. 7; seven pars in a row from 9 to 15; and a closing birdie on 18 to finish with a 9-over 79.

"It was really tough," Zhang said. "I didn't hit the ball quite well, but my putting was OK. So, but the course is really tough. So I'm actually OK with what I shot today; 7 over par, 79. At least I broke 80."

All in all not bad for the youngest player in modern U.S. Open history.

"I am really proud of myself, actually," Zhang said. "Well I shouldn't say proud, I'm really happy to be here. I'm really honored especially that those other guys that I watch on TV growing up and having them talk about me, that's really an honor."

Zhang, at about 6-0, 175 pounds, has been part of the IMG Leadbetter Academy in Florida and is based in the Orlando area. Tadd Fujikawa previously was the youngest in the modern era. He was 15 when he qualified for the 2006 U.S. Open at Winged Foot.

Zhang was the first alternate out of the sectional qualifying last Monday, where he posted scores of 70-72 at Black Diamond in Lecanto, Fla. Born in China, he moved to the USA when he was about 10.

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