Sean Maekawa of Pa'auilo, Hawai'i, and Ryan Perez of 'Ewa Beach advanced to today's start of match play in the U.S. Amateur Public Links at Norman, Okla.

Maekawa shot a 3-over 74 yesterday to finish at 4-over 146 in two rounds of qualifying. Perez shot 75—148 to also make the cut of 149.

Nick Taylor of Canada earned the top seed among the 64 qualifiers after shooting 70—136 at the Jimmie Austin Golf Course on the University of Oklahoma campus.

Taylor was in the first group off the tee and took advantage of benign early conditions before the swirling winds and 100-degree temperatures battered the field throughout the day.

"The wind picked up after seven or eight holes," Taylor said. "What made it tough was the ball was spinning a little more in the wind and it was tough to get back at the holes."

Maekawa will play Robert Hoadley of Southern Pines, N.C., and Perez will face Luke Guthrie of Quincy, Ill. in today's first round of match play.