One of them, however, is not finished playing.

Hideki Matsuyama, who qualified under a recent initiative by the tournament to help spread the game globally, was the only amateur to make the cut, shooting a second-round 73 to qualify for the weekend without a shot to spare. The 19-year-old from Japan won the second Asian Amateur, a tournament the Masters was instrumental in helping create, since it awards a coveted spot at Augusta National.

Matsuyama, a college sophomore, is guaranteed to win low amateur honors since the other five — including US Amateur champion Peter Uihlein, a New Bedford native — missed the cut.

“I’m doing much better than I expected,’’ said Matsuyama, who opened with a 72 and completed two rounds at 1 over. “I’m very, very happy.’’

Trevor Immelman, who made the cut in 1999 as the US Amateur Public Links champion, was paired with Matsuyama the first two rounds.

“I think it’s great. It’s a big week for those guys, and there’s a lot of things here that they wouldn’t have experienced before,’’ said Immelman, who won the Masters three years ago and is 2 under (69-73). “The huge atmosphere, tremendous history behind this venue, and rubbing shoulders with the greatest players in the game, it can be quite overwhelming. If [an amateur] is playing well enough to make the cut, I think it’s a great achievement.’’

Uihlein had positioned himself to make a run at the weekend after a first-round 72, but struggled yesterday, opening with a three-putt bogey on No. 1. He came back with a two-putt birdie on the par-5 second, and birdied No. 13. Four bogeys on the back nine in a five-hole stretch, though, sunk his chances at the cut, but couldn’t sour his first Masters experience.

“It’s a thrill to be here. It was a lot of fun. Obviously, I didn’t play that well, but everybody was very supportive,’’ said Uihlein, who finished 5 over. “To be part of this was pretty great. I learned I’ve got a lot to work on.’’

Nathan Smith didn’t make the cut after a second-round 77 left him 8 over, but his achievement is unique in today’s competitive world of amateur golf. Smith, a 32-year-old from Pittsburgh, has played in the Masters three times now, all following US Mid-Amateur titles.

He missed the cut his first two times by two shots; not being close to the cut line this year actually afforded Smith a new opportunity.

“It’s kind of weird to say maybe this time might be a little more enjoyable because I wasn’t really close to the cut, so you’re just soaking it all in,’’ Smith said. “I don’t know how many times you can hit the lottery. I’ve been really fortunate and enjoyed all of my times.’’

Lion Kim, the 2010 US Amateur Public Links winner, shot the best second-round score among the amateurs (72), but finished 4 over. US Amateur runner-up David Chung (72-76) and Jin Jeong (73-77), the reigning British Amateur champion, also failed to qualify.

Four of the six will return to school next week. For Smith, it’s back to work as an investment adviser, where he’ll try to put into words what playing in another Masters was like.

“Surreal. It’s everything you think it is and a lot more, which is pretty special,’’ Smith said. “It’s hard to put into words what playing Amen Corner and playing in front of these people and your thoughts and feelings off the first tee are. I try to say it, but unless you’re going through it you can’t quite understand it.’’

Michael Whitmer can be reached at mwhitmer@globe.com