The view overlooking Augusta National Golf Club was pretty good from the Crow's Nest on Friday, despite storm clouds and suspended play.

Ryan Moore, one of four amateurs in the Masters, finished ahead of his peers and three-quarters of the field after 18 holes.

His 1-under-par 71 tied him for eighth place with six other players, including two-time U.S. Open champion Retief Goosen.

Moore, 22, is in position to make the cut, an obstacle only six amateurs have cleared the past five years.

"I go play with what I got," Moore said after emerging from his amateurs-only lodgings above the clubhouse. "I'm hitting it well and wish I could've kept going."

No other amateur finished under par.

Luke List, the U.S. Amateur runner-up, is at 4-over for 23 holes.

New Hampshire's Austin Eaton III and British Amateur champion Stuart Wilson fared worse, posting 9-over and 10-over scores, respectively.

Eaton, the 2004 U.S. Mid-Amateur champion, is through 23 holes, with Wilson halfway through his second round.

In 2003, Moore finished the first round of the Masters tied for 12th at 1-over and ended the tournament tied for 45th.

Since his inaugural outing here, the University of Nevada -Las Vegas senior has blazed a path through collegiate and amateur circuits.

He won what's referred to as the amateur Grand Slam, including the U.S. Amateur, U.S. Public Links, NCAA Championship and the Western Amateur last year.

"(The championships I've won) That doesn't matter right now. It helps. It helps with confidence,'' he said. "But I'm just going out and playing one shot at a time."

Accurate and powerful drives continued to be the backbone of Moore's game. He hit 12 of 14 fairways Friday.

Two shots did escape him, though. He bogeyed 17 and missed an eagle putt at the par-5 15th.

But consistency was the hallmark of his round.

"I am just happy to make a birdie after 14 straight pars," Moore said about his birdie at 15. He also birdied the par-3 16th.

"I wanted to throw a red number. They were throwing up red numbers all day. I just wanted to join them."

Reach Erin Rossiter at (912) 652-0329 or erin.rossiter@savannahnow.com.