Franco Castro and Michael Morrison each carded a 5-under 65 on Monday and sit tied at the top of the leaderboard after the first day of the U.S. Amateur Qualifier No. 2 at Achasta Golf Course in Dahlonega.

Castro of Alpharetta birdied seven holes Monday, with the lone dark spot on his scorecard coming on No. 8 with a double bogey. Morrison’s card was error-free, with three birdies and an eagle on the par-four No. 13.

Nineteen players finished Day 1 under par and within five strokes of the leaders going into the final day of the 36-hole event.

North Hall graduate Alan Fowler fired a 1-under, 69 and heads into today tied for 13th.

The event is part of a series of 99 tournaments which are used as qualifiers for the 110th U.S. Amateur Championship, which will be held Aug. 23-29 at Chambers Bay golf course in University Place, Wash.

To compete as an amateur, a golfer must not have received benefits of a greater retail value than $750 for playing golf and must have a United States Golf Association handicap index of 2.4 or less.