BRASELTON — David Yowell of Marietta and Zack Jaworski, both making their first appearances in an American Junior Golf Association event, and Andy Shim of Lawrenceville, all carded 2-under-par 69s Sunday to share the lead after the first round of the Preseason Junior at Chateau Elan.
In the Girls Division, Shane Crutchfield of St. Petersburg, Fla., leads by four shots after opening with a 2-over-par 73.
The Preseason Junior at Chateau Elan is a 36-hole tournament conducted by the AJGA.
The 96-player field consists of 78 boys and 18 girls from 17 states and the Philippines. The boys are playing the Chateau Course at 6,689 yards and the girls are playing at 5,888 yards.
Yowell wasted little time getting his round going in his AJGA debut as he quickly grabbed a birdie on the par-4 first hole. Yowell then strung together 12 straight pars before snagging his second birdie of the day on the par-4 14th en route to a bogey-free opening round.
“I had a great time and I am looking forward to tomorrow,” Yowell said. “I am going to try and keep under par and keep high numbers away.”
One pairing after Yowell, Jaworski matched with a 69 of his own, carding three birdies and a bogey.
Before Sunday, Jaworski said he had never shot in the 60s in a tournament, but now that it’s out of the way, he will look to do much of the same in today’s final round.
Shim, who tied for 11th in his AJGA debut in April at the Junior All-Star at Chateau Elan, was the third player in the trio to card a 69 as he tallied birdies on three of his first four holes.
Bogeys at Nos. 17 and 18 brought his round to a halt, but afterward Shim said those two holes wouldn’t rattle his confidence.
“I’m just trying to make birdies and if I make bogeys, I won’t worry about it,” Shim said.
Ben Reeves of Knoxville, Tenn., and Jake Tucker of Cullman, Ala., are tied for fourth at 1-under-par 70.
Gainesville’s Will Frankum is eight shots off the pace after carding a 77 on Sunday.
Crutchfield got her day going with two birdies on the front, but a mid-round rain delay disrupted the momentum she built early.
Crutchfield made the turn at 3-over par to finish with a 73, but was perfectly content to have her first lead heading into the final round.
“I’m just going to go into it how I did today, focus on playing one hole at a time and shooting as low as I can,” Crutchfield said.
Kaila Tuccio of Windermere, Fla., Alexandra Farnsworth of Nashville, Tenn., and Amanda Smith of Canton, Ohio, are tied for second at 6-over-par 77.
The final round will get under way today with an 8 a.m. shotgun start.
In the Girls Division, Shane Crutchfield of St. Petersburg, Fla., leads by four shots after opening with a 2-over-par 73.
The Preseason Junior at Chateau Elan is a 36-hole tournament conducted by the AJGA.
The 96-player field consists of 78 boys and 18 girls from 17 states and the Philippines. The boys are playing the Chateau Course at 6,689 yards and the girls are playing at 5,888 yards.
Yowell wasted little time getting his round going in his AJGA debut as he quickly grabbed a birdie on the par-4 first hole. Yowell then strung together 12 straight pars before snagging his second birdie of the day on the par-4 14th en route to a bogey-free opening round.
“I had a great time and I am looking forward to tomorrow,” Yowell said. “I am going to try and keep under par and keep high numbers away.”
One pairing after Yowell, Jaworski matched with a 69 of his own, carding three birdies and a bogey.
Before Sunday, Jaworski said he had never shot in the 60s in a tournament, but now that it’s out of the way, he will look to do much of the same in today’s final round.
Shim, who tied for 11th in his AJGA debut in April at the Junior All-Star at Chateau Elan, was the third player in the trio to card a 69 as he tallied birdies on three of his first four holes.
Bogeys at Nos. 17 and 18 brought his round to a halt, but afterward Shim said those two holes wouldn’t rattle his confidence.
“I’m just trying to make birdies and if I make bogeys, I won’t worry about it,” Shim said.
Ben Reeves of Knoxville, Tenn., and Jake Tucker of Cullman, Ala., are tied for fourth at 1-under-par 70.
Gainesville’s Will Frankum is eight shots off the pace after carding a 77 on Sunday.
Crutchfield got her day going with two birdies on the front, but a mid-round rain delay disrupted the momentum she built early.
Crutchfield made the turn at 3-over par to finish with a 73, but was perfectly content to have her first lead heading into the final round.
“I’m just going to go into it how I did today, focus on playing one hole at a time and shooting as low as I can,” Crutchfield said.
Kaila Tuccio of Windermere, Fla., Alexandra Farnsworth of Nashville, Tenn., and Amanda Smith of Canton, Ohio, are tied for second at 6-over-par 77.
The final round will get under way today with an 8 a.m. shotgun start.