Silicon Valley Amateur: Brandon Knight takes the early lead after a 4-under 66

08 Jan 2024
by Justin Golba of AmateurGolf.com
see also: View results for AGC Silicon Valley Amateur, Stanford University Golf Course, Brandon Knight Rankings
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Stanford University Golf Course with the iconic Hoover Tower

After an impressive opening round 4-under 66, Brandon Knight of Pleasanton, Calif., leads the 2024 AmateurGolf.com Silicon Valley Amateur at the Stanford University Golf Course in Palo Alto, Calif.

Knight recorded five birdies and one bogey, with a chip in on No. 2, his eleventh hole of the day since he started on the back nine. He also recorded birdies on Holes No. 1, 5, 15, and 18. He was familiar with the course, having played it "around ten times" throughout junior golf.

"I just hit it really consistently all day, and I made a couple of putts," Knight said. "My chipping was really good and dialed in."

Barclay Brown, a graduate student at Stanford and 2023 Walker Cupper for Great Britain and Ireland, shot a 3-under 67 to sit in solo second place.

"I made a couple of putts and missed a couple as well," Brown said. "I scrambled decently. I didn't do anything that well but kind of plotted my way around and put together a decent score."

Brown returned to the United States from England a few days ago to prepare for the spring semester at Stanford.

Keshav Mungali of Belmont, Calif., Benjamin Wang of San Ramon, Calif., and Ben Friedman of Mill Valley, Calif. are all T3 at 2-under.

Dan Young of Redwood City, Calif., is leading the Senior Championship Division at 1-over.

View results for AGC Silicon Valley Amateur

ABOUT THE AGC Silicon Valley Amateur

The Silicon Valley Amateur is now a 54-hole, limited-field WAGR points event! The field will consist of 64 scratch players and 18 invited scratch seniors. After 36 holes are contested (one round on Monday, one on Tuesday), the field will be cut to the low 30 scratch amateurs and ties, and the low nine scratch seniors and ties. These players will be eligible for the final round on Wednesday. We expect to gain exemptions for winners into several top tournaments - details forthcoming. Past champions of this tournament include PGA Tour stars Collin Morikawa and Max Homa.

DIVISIONS

CHAMPIONSHIP
For players aged 16 and over with a USGA or equivalent index of 1.9 or less.

SENIOR CHAMPIONSHIP
For players age 50 and over (as of the tournament date) with a handicap index of 3.9 or less. Note: Must be 55 and over for NCGA Senior Points.

MID-AM (subdivision of Championship)
For players age 25- 49. Compete alongside the younger players in the Championship Division, (same tees, same prize opportunities) and if there are at least six Mid-Ams, a separate prize and trophy will be awarded.

WOMEN (subdivision of Championship)
Will play in the Championship Division but from a shorter tee. If there are at least six women in the field, a separate prize and trophy will be awarded.