Patrick Reed is a year older and as confident as ever.

After falling in the 2008 U.S. Amateur semifinals to eventual champion Danny Lee, Reed is back this week with plenty on the line.

The Augusta State sophomore is vying for a spot on the U.S. Walker Cup team. He's also trying to qualify for the 2010 Masters Tournament -- the champion and runner-up receive invitations -- after falling one win short of making it inside the ropes at Augusta National Golf Club in April.

"It's a new year, a new tournament," Reed said. "But I feel like I'm hitting the ball better. I'm playing better."

Reed won't go it alone. He, teammate Taylor Floyd and coach Josh Gregory comprise a three-member Blue Crew at the U.S. Amateur, which starts Monday at Southern Hills Country Club in Tulsa, Okla. The Jaguars will square off against 309 other players in two days of medal play. The low 64 advance to match play, which begins Wednesday.

"It'd be neat to see us all get to match play," Gregory said. "Who knows what the odds are of that happening. But I think it's definitely possible with the way we're playing."

Gregory, the Georgia State Golf Association Male Player of the Year runner-up in 2008, advanced to the U.S. Amateur Public Links Championship second round last month. He is making history as the first Augusta State golf coach to play in the U.S. Amateur. This is also the first time the school has had three representatives competing in the event.

"From a selfish standpoint, what a cool thing it is to be a coach to not only play but more importantly have two of your kids there," Gregory said. "That's two more people to pull for while I'm playing."

Floyd assembled an impressive freshman campaign last season. He won one tournament, tied for fourth in another and finished with a 72.32 stroke average. He qualified for the U.S. Amateur on the cut number.

"I'm really looking forward to it," he said. "I've been hitting it pretty well. My game's been coming around. My main goal is to make match play."

Floyd and Gregory each are playing in their first U.S. Amateur. Reed is making his second appearance.

"I know Taylor has the game to play well there," Gregory said. "And Patrick probably has pretty high expectations, as well he should."

Reed is the third-ranked amateur in the U.S., according to Golfweek , and No. 10 in the world. He made the cut in all eight amateur events he played in this summer, and he advanced to the quarterfinals of the North & South Amateur before advancing to the semifinals of the Western Amateur earlier this month.

"I felt like I had control of my game" at the Western Amateur, Reed said. "Going into this tournament, it just gives me confidence."

Reed is trying to obtain that coveted spot in the Walker Cup matches, which will be held next month. U.S. Walker Cup captain Buddy Marucci picked eight players earlier this month and is expected to choose two more after the conclusion of the U.S. Amateur.

"I'm an outside looking in," Reed said. "I feel like I have to go out and earn it."