Barker goes 5 under for early lead at Sunnehanna Amateur
Lachlan Barker (Iowa State Athletics photo)
Australian
Lachlan Barker has the lead at the Sunnehanna Amateur after a first-round 5-under 65 at Sunnehanna Country Club in Johnstown, Pa. Barker, a rising junior at Iowa State, sprinkled seven birdies into his round to climb to the top.
Barker shined as a junior golfer in Australia, winning the South Australian Junior Championship and the Malaysian Amateur as a kid and coming in third at the Australian Junior Championship. He was a two-time team captain for the South Australian Junior squad. He has been second on the Iowa State team in scoring each of the past two seasons.
Barker is one of four Australians in the field. Jack Trent is also near the top after a 1-under 69 left him tied for eight.
Directly behind Barker,
James Nicholas of Scarsdale, N.Y., had a 4-under 66 to find solo second. But for a closing bogey at the par-4 18th, Nicholas would have been even with Barker.
Nicholas is a rising senior on the Yale men’s golf team who briefly played football at the university. He is multi-talented as an athlete, and also was the sixth all-time leading scorer in New York high school hockey history.
Just last week, Nicholas and partner Chris Troy played their way to the final match at the Anderson Memorial, a prestigious four-ball event at Winged Foot.
A three-way tie for third includes Mason Overstreet, Spencer Soosman and Andy Spencer.
Defending champion Alex Smalley is tied for sixth at 2-under 68.
ABOUT THE
Sunnehanna Amateur
First played in July 1954, the Sunnehanna Amateur holds a distinguished place in golf history as the first country club-sponsored 72-hole medal (stroke) play event for amateurs in the United States. Its groundbreaking format helped set the standard for elite amateur competition and has since inspired numerous high-level tournaments across the country.
Hosted at Sunnehanna Country Club in Johnstown, Pennsylvania, the event is played on a classic 1921 A.W. Tillinghast design—a quintessential golden-age layout known for its strategic shot values, rolling terrain, and challenging greens. The course itself is as much a draw as the championship, offering a pure test of golf that showcases the talent of rising amateur stars.
With its rich tradition, elite fields, and iconic venue, the Sunnehanna Amateur remains one of the premier proving grounds for future professionals. Its alumni list includes many who have gone on to successful PGA Tour careers, making it a must-watch event on the amateur calendar, and one of the best tournaments to kick off a competitive summer in amateur golf.
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