Joseph Deraney (L) and Justin Kaplan (R),
co-leaders of the Carlton Woods Invitational

They got there in different ways. For Deraney, it was a hot start that ignited his round, going four under through eight holes and eventually recording six birdies overall against one bogey. Kaplan was one under through twelve, then birdied four of the last six. Kaplan had seven birdies for the day against two bogeys.

The result is the all-time record low round at the Carlton Woods Invitational.

Deraney is making his first appearance at the Carlton Woods Invitational after becoming a force on the mid-amateur circuit in 2016 by winning the Stocker Cup, Lupton Invitational, the Timuquana Cup, and the Kentucky Mid-Amateur.

Kaplan is a former University of Houston player who regularly contends in state and regional amateur events and won the Texas Mid-Amateur Match Play in 2015.

Heath Myers sits in third place at four back with a 71, followed by 2011 CWI Champion David Bartman and Derek Busby at 72. Two-time champion and last year's winner Colby Harwell is tied 10th with a 75.

There was another hot round in the Senior Division. Jeff New, a former resident of The Woodlands who now resides in Scottsdale, AZ, shot a four-under 68 in a round that included six birdies against two bogeys. New, who won the 2015 Trans-Mississippi Senior and who was runner-up in the Senior Masters earlier this spring, carries a three shot lead into round two over Herb Fisher and Mike Peck. Larry Nunez and Scott Smith sit four back after rounds of even-par 72.

Mike Booker, a three-time CWI Senior Champion, is tied for 13th after a 75.