ATLANTA — Ollie Schniederjans felt good coming into the first round of the U.S. Amateur qualifier held Tuesday at Piedmont Driving Club, and his play proved it.

The rising Georgia Tech sophomore and former Harrison standout collected six birdies and two bogeys to finish tied with Athens’ Chris Waters atop the leaderboard with a 4-over 67 on the par-71, 7,028-yard course.

Schniederjans, who started on the back nine, birdied Nos. 11, 12, 18, to make the turn at 3 under. He then alternated birdies and bogeys between Nos. 2 and 6 to compete his round.

“I felt good coming into (Tuesday),” Schniederjans said. “I was hitting it awesome, and felt like all I needed to do was putt well to have a good round. But, playing in the afternoon group, I didn’t know how beat up the greens would be, so that was my biggest concern.

“I knew there’d be chances for birdies. I had to stay patient and tap in pars when I needed to. I hit a lot of good putts that should have gone in, but didn’t. But I’m happy with my round. I’ve given myself a chance in this tournament.”

The remaining golfers in the field of 144, which was narrowed to the top 60 and ties after Tuesday’s round, will vie for six automatic berths and two alternate positions to the U.S. Amateur Championship, which will be held Aug. 13-19 at Cherry Hills Country Club in Cherry Hills Village, Colo.

The final round of the 36-hole qualifier takes place today.

“Any time I play, I want to win,” Schniederjans said. “But I’ll be happy with being in the top six because that’s all I need to make the U.S. Amateur. My goal is to win the Amateur.”

Schniederjans’ former Harrison and Georgia Tech teammate, James White, is tied for third at 3-under 68. Also making the cut were Kennesaw’s Daniel Kim (70), rising Kennesaw Mountain sophomore Jonathan Keppler (72), Mableton’s Brian Katrek (75), former Harrison golfer Michael Garretson (75), Marietta’s Josh Nelson (75) and Acworth’s Tevis Upton (75).

White made the turn with three birdies and a bogey, and he picked up another birdie on the back nine to post his solid round.

“I hit it off the tee very well (Tuesday), which is where I’ve struggled lately, and hit 13 of 14 fairways,” White said. “I could have putted better, but, all in all, I played well.”

Wind became a factor for several of the golfers as the day continued, but White’s experiences with the wind gusts paled in comparison.

“The wind picked up while I played the back nine,” said White, a morning starter, “but I’ve played in Europe this summer. The wind there is much tougher, so to come back here in this didn’t affect me at all.”

Kim, a rising freshman at College of Charleston and recent graduate of the Westminster School, is tied for 17th.

“I hit it well all day,” he said. “I kept it in the fairways and wasn’t too aggressive. I just need to play my game, play smart and be confident.”

Keppler, the reigning Class AAAAA state champion, birdied No. 18 to finish tied for 26th.

“This is the best I’ve hit in a long time,” he said. “I can’t complain about my score. It’s a tough course. It’s lengthy, and there are a bunch of bunkers. You have to be on your game to play well.”

Katrek, Garretson, Nelson and Upton are among 15 players tied for 48th.

“I (triple-bogeyed) 18 from the center of the fairway,” said Garretson, a rising sophomore at South Alabaman, “so my round could have been a lot better. I hit the water twice and missed a 3-footer. It seemed like every shot was a train wreck out there.”