First round co-leader Luke Armbrust
(WGA Photo)
SKOKIE, IL (Tuesday, June 20) - Two players share the lead at 4 under after Tuesday’s first round of the 101st Western Junior at Evanston Golf Club.
Luke Armbrust, of Wheaton, Illinois, and Karl Vilips, of Perth, Australia, each shot 66 and hold a one-stroke advantage over Cameron Frazier, of Cincinnati, Ohio, who finished with 67. The three were among 18 players who broke par on the Donald Ross design.
Last year’s runner-up, Vilips carded six birdies and two bogeys.
“It wasn’t bad,” he said. “There definitely could have been more birdies out there. I just played solid golf.”
Vilips, the No. 1 player in the AJGA Rolex Rankings and a Stanford verbal commit, got as low as 5 under following back-to-back birdies at Nos. 13-14, but he hit his tee shot on the par-4 18th into the grassy bank above the left fairway bunker that resulted in a bogey.
“I wanted to shoot a little lower [Tuesday],” Vilips said. “I struck it probably six out of 10. If I can get my ball-striking up a bit, I can go a little bit lower. But I understand it will be tougher in the afternoon [Wednesday].”
In the afternoon wave Tuesday, Armbrust, an incoming freshman at Illinois, reached 5 under after a stretch of five birdies over eight holes. He gave a shot back with a 3-putt bogey on the par-3 17th, his second-to-last hole.
“If I posted a good score, it would be from hitting fairways and greens and giving myself opportunities,” Armbrust said.
In one of the last groups of the day, Frazier found himself at 4 under following an eagle at the par-5 13th. The Wisconsin-bound Frazier made four consecutive pars until a bogey at No. 18 dropped him out of the lead.
Six players are tied for fourth at 2 under, and nine are at 1 under.
Defending champion and Pepperdine commit William Mouw, of Chino, Californina, posted a 1-over 71.
Editors Note: Article by Matt Harness/WGAView results for Western Junior
ABOUT THE
Western Junior
This historic 72-hole stroke play event open to male amateur golfers who are at least 12 years old and have not reached their 19th birthday as of the date of the last round. Entrants cannot be a member of a college golf team or have participated in any supervised team activities. Must conform to USGA gender policy and rules of amateur status. Exemption categories can be found on the Western Golf Association website.
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