One sentiment could be heard by spectators and players alike throughout Jimmie Austin OU Golf Club Monday.

It was hot. It was really, really hot.

As temperatures reached triple digits, 156 players from around the world teed it up for the 84th U.S. Amateur Public Links Championship, marking the first time the tournament has been held at a university golf course.

Coming fresh off a 36th place finish at Bethpage Black in the 2009 U.S. Open, University of Washington senior Nick Taylor turned heads while carding a 5-under-par 66, taking the 18-hole lead.

“All my birdies were close putts. I had a kick-in birdie once, but for the most part they were all five or six feet,” Taylor said. “I just need to stick around par and keep it around the fairway, and not be too aggressive. I hit it great, and if I keep doing that I’ll be fine.”

OU was well represented during Monday’s opening round as well.

Junior Liam Logan fired an opening round 2-over-par 73.

Birdies at the 12th and 17th holes capped an opening-nine score of 35, but the Fort Worth native gave two shots back to the field as he bogeyed the eighth and ninth to finish his opening round.

“I thought I would be more nervous than I was, but it really only hit me on the opening tee shot,” Logan said. “I started to fully understand the prestige of this event at last night’s banquet. It’s pretty special to be representing OU.”

Logan credited his score on an early tee time, as temperatures were expected to reach nearly 106 degrees Monday afternoon.

“I’m going to spend the rest of the day inside in the air conditioning,” Logan said. “I’m going to go see `Bruno,’ get a good night’s rest and come out and practice some in the morning. Playing in the afternoon tomorrow, you just have to mentally prepare yourself for the heat. I was more surprised about the lack of wind today, as the wind always blows in Oklahoma.”

Others weren’t as fortunate with early tee times.

OU assistant golf coach Phillip Bryan drew a late afternoon start, and carded an even-par 71 despite the hot weather.

“I got off to a bad start, but after that I kind of settled down and played well,” said the Mustang, Okla., native who started 2-over-par through the fourth hole. “I really didn’t hit it that well, but I played smart.”

Perhaps the most intriguing golfer on the course Monday was Oklahoma State University phenom Rickie Fowler.

Fowler was a first team All-American in 2008 and 2009 at OSU, and was also the recipient of the 2008 Ben Hogan Award and the 2008 Phil Mickelson Award.

In front of the biggest gallery of the day, Fowler recorded a 3-under-par 68 while wearing all white pants on a day that will go down as one of the hottest for USGA competition.

“Fourteen waters and two Gatorades,” Fowler said after finishing a grueling 18 holes.

As for his play?

“I played really well. I hit the ball really well and drove the ball well,” he said. “I only missed two greens and I felt I hit a lot of putts well, but unfortunately missed quite a few.”

Fowler missed 31 putts on the day.

The second round of stroke-play qualifying is scheduled to finish Tuesday. The low 64 scorers will advance to the match play portion of the championship, scheduled to begin Wednesday and conclude on Saturday.

Notable oklahomans

T-38 Austin Bowman – Perry 73

T-106 Jason Wood – Piedmont, 77

T-147 Dillon Rust – Edmond 82