AUGUSTA, Ga. — It took him 26 holes, but Dean Wilson finally got his birdie at Augusta National.

The Kane'ohe native, who is playing in his first Masters, hit a sand wedge to six feet on the eighth hole, then drained the putt. Wilson birdied two more holes and shot even-par 72 in the second round. That left him in a tie for 15th with Tiger Woods and six other players at 3-over-par 147.

Tim Clark shot 71 and shared the lead at 2-under 142 with Brett Wetterich, who shot 73.

"Didn't think I was ever going to get one," Wilson said of his birdie, "so finally rolling one in on eight felt great."

Wilson ran into his only trouble of the day with a bogey on the 10th hole and a double bogey on the start of Amen Corner, when his approach shot bounced off the front of the 11th green and into the water.

Wilson rallied with par on the 12th hole, followed by birdies on the 13th and 15th holes.

"I'm happy to survive the cut and have a chance going into the weekend," Wilson said. "It seems like this tournament's all bunched up."

Wilson and Mike Weir, teammates and roommates at Brigham Young, are paired together for the third round.

Weir, the 2003 Masters champion, and Wilson posted identical 75-72s.

Kapa'a's Casey Watabu, the U.S. Public Links champion, wrapped up his first Masters with three birdies on the back nine on his way to a 78 and a finish at 21-over 165. Watabu's 18-footer for birdie on the final hole kept him from tying Seve Ballesteros for last place.

Watabu plans to play as an amateur for the rest of the season and might attempt to qualify for the PGA Tour in the fall. He also wouldn't mind planning another trip to Augusta.

"I was thinking this better not be my first and last time here," Watabu said. "I enjoyed it and I would love to come back here."