Five locals compete on opening day of golf’s U.S. Junior Amateur
A total of five golfers from local high schools took part as the U.S. Junior Amateur golf tournaments began play on Monday.
Three boys competed at Colleton River Plantation Club in Bluffton, S.C.: Subin Lee of Cherry Creek, Coby Welch of Valor Christian, and Davis Bryant of Eaglecrest.
The two girls played at Tulsa Country Club in Tulsa, Okla.: Gillian Vance, a recent Dakota Ridge graduate, and Morgan Sahm of Grandview.
In the boys tournament, Valor Christian’s Welch shot a 3-over 75 and sits in a tie for 58th. Cherry Creek’s Lee carded a 6-over 78, leaving him in a tie for 101st, and Eaglecrest’s Bryant shot a 9-over 81, and is in a tie for 132nd.
The leaders, a group of three, finished 4-under on the first day.
The girls tournament was suspended at 3:05 p.m. because of dangerous weather near Tulsa with Vance on the 12th hole and Sahm on the 14th. When play resumed at 5:45 p.m., Grandview’s Sahm finished at 7-over 77, which currently has her in 115th place. Vance, the Dakota Ridge grad, finished at 10-over (80), and is in 138th.
A few golfers were still on the course during the first round when play was suspended due to darkness at 7:38 p.m. The leaders are at 4-under.
Both tournaments follow the same format: A total of 156 golfers compete in stroke play over two rounds on Monday and Tuesday, with the field then cut to 64 for match play Wednesday through Saturday.
Bryant finished in a tie for 30th at the Class 5A state tournament as a freshman last season at 14-over. Lee, who will be a senior this fall, finished in a tie for 58th (+21) in 5A. Welch, who will also be a senior, tied for fourth place at the 4A championships last fall at 2-over.
On the girls side, Vance won last year’s 5A state tournament, which was shortened by rain. She graduated in the spring, and will head to the University of Colorado this fall.
Sahm finished in a tie for third at that same 5A girls meet last season. Sahm will be a senior this fall.
