Chandler Phillips of Texas A&M posted 69 in round 1

HUTCHINSON, Kansas (July 11, 2017) -– Recently graduated Lipscomb University golfer Stoney Crouch and Hunter Richardson from Clarksville, Tennessee both shot late-charging 67s Tuesday to lead after the first day of the 114th annual Trans-Mississippi Championship at Prairie Dunes Country Club.

Richardson, a Tennessee-Martin senior, had two birdies and only one bogey in his final nine holes with a birdie on the par 4 6th, his 15th of the day. Crouch birdied three of his last six holes to tie for the lead.

“I thank God for the people he has placed in my path to get me to this point,” Crouch said.

University of Iowa junior Matthew Walker fired a two-under-par 68 for solo second place in swirling, windy conditions. He went out in early morning conditions with five birdies and only three bogeys and held the early lead in the 2017 event. Walker finished his round with birdies on both 17 and 18 to cap his stellar round.

Texas A&M junior Chandler Phillips was a shot behind at 69 along with Austin, Texas amateur Trevor Brown. “I hit the ball really well today. Had a lot of opportunities and made some putts,” said Walker from Ottumwa, Iowa. “I missed a couple short putts, but I made some long ones that offset them.”

“There’s plenty of room out there if you’re hitting your driver well. I hit my driver well, put it on the greens and made some putts. It was pretty stress-free, honestly.”

Phillips, who birdied four of his last seven holes, including 17 and 18 at iconic, links style Prairie Dunes, said the winds which gusted up to 20 mph by the time he finished, remind him of his practice rounds at his hometown of Huntsville, Texas.

“Today was a normal day back home. Even in College Station (Texas A&M) , this is normal, blowing 15-20.” I try to hit punch shots, low shots as much as I can. I really don’t like to fight the wind, so I try to play shots with the wind and see where they end up.”

Brown, who plays for Rice University, said he continued his strong play from this year’s Conference USA Tournament where he finished a season-high tied for 12th.

NOTABLES

Defending champion Will Zalatoris struggled in his quest to win three times in four years. He recorded three bogeys in his first eight holes at Prairie Dunes and never was under par in his round after that. He finished at 73.

Scottie Scheffler, the low amateur at the 2017 U.S. Open, suffered two bogeys and a double bogey in a four hole stretch on the front nine to finish at 73.