CHICAGO — Braden Bailey overcame a shaky start with four birdies in a five-hole stretch on the back nine to accomplish goal No. 1 in the prestigious Western Amateur Championship on Wednesday afternoon at Knollwood Club.

The Port Neches-Groves ex and sophomore-to-be at Baylor wound up shooting a 1-over par 72 for a 36-hole total of 141. That left him tied for eighth in a field of 156 players. It also enabled Bailey to make the cut to the low 44 players and ties for 36 more holes of medal play Thursday.

To stay alive and reach the Friday-Saturday match play portion of the Western, Bailey will have be in the top 16 at the 72-hole mark. That sweet 16 will battle it out for a trophy that bears the names of Tiger Woods, Jack Nicklaus and Phil Mickelson, among others.

Bailey, after an opening 69 that included seven birdies, looked to be in comfortable shape entering Wednesday’s round. But three bogeys in his first six holes led to a three-over par 39 on the front that left him only one shot clear of the projected cut.

Birdies at 12, 13, 15 and 16 took the heat off, however.

Sam Horsfield, a sophomore at  Florida, was the 36-hole medalist at 138 on rounds of 63-75. Also ahead of Bailey were five players at 139 and one at 140.