Jayce Stepp played college golf, but that doesn't mean he enjoys the game by walking the course.

Oliver Wilson's entourage for his first Masters round included Kristen Bragg (from left), Robin Smith, fiancee Lauren Smith and Rusty Perry. (Chris Thelen/Staff)

The former Augusta State Univer-sity golfer walked all 18 holes Thursday at Augusta National solely to support his close friend and former teammate Oliver Wilson, who made his first Masters Tournament appearance.

"I like to watch golf on television," said Stepp, who took a week off from his job of benefits planning consulting in Atlanta. "But it means something to me to be out here watching him."

Wilson turned in a respectable roller-coaster round of 1-over-par 73 in front of about 25-30 friends and family. The 28-year-old Englishman recorded four birdies against five bogeys.

"That's probably the worst he could've shot," Stepp said. "I didn't see him save anything or make any long putts. I thought he could've shot four, five shots better."

Wilson is the second Augusta State golfer to play in the Masters. Vaughn Taylor made his debut in 2006.

The Jaguar golf team has proved to be a close-knit bunch. Many former Augusta State golfers came and supported Taylor. Now, they're doing the same for Wilson.

Former Jaguar golfer Michael Webb is expected to come today to watch Wilson. Webb's father, Mike, walked the course Thursday with Wilson.

"He's just a friend of the family," the elder Webb said about Wilson. "It's a whole different tournament when you know someone who's in it. It's a lot more fun."

Wilson's fiancee, Lauren Smith, who played for the Augusta State women's golf team, walked with some of her former teammates. Her parents, Robin and Eddie, helped root on Wilson. Also walking with Stepp were Wilson's agent and former Augusta State golfer Robert Duck, Duck's father, Michael, and Pointe South Golf Club head pro Scott Allen.

After Wilson rolled in a 15-foot birdie putt at the par-4 fifth hole, Michael Duck said out loud, "That should settle him down a bit."

It did. Wilson went on to birdie Nos. 7 and 8 before carding a back-nine 39.

This is Wilson's first Masters, but this is not his first time here. Stepp drove Wilson down Magnolia Lane when they first played Augusta National as Jaguar teammates.

Reach Chris Gay at (706) 823-3645 or chris.gay@augustachronicle.com.