VERO BEACH, Fla. – The 107th Amateur Championship kicked off today at Quail Valley Golf Club and Bent Pine Golf Club. Quail Valley is the host course in which the players who make the cut will play three rounds on.
What Happened
The first round brought some amazing rounds as expected from this talented field of competitors. Clipper Salmon emerged
with the low round of eight-under-par, 64 at Quail Valley Golf Club. The rising high school senior carded eight birdies and no bogeys to take the lead by two strokes after the first round. Salmon is making his first Amateur debut and started out with nerves of steel. He posted five birdies on his first nine to make the turn with a 31, and he showed no remission on the back as he extended his round to eight-under-par by firing three more birdies on his second nine.
In addition, Christian Figueredo fired a six-under-par, 66 at Quail Valley Golf Club to sit only two strokes off the lead. Figueredo posted five birdies on the front nine to make the turn with a share of the lead at five-under-par. He then extended his lead to seven-under-par through thirteen holes. After only one bogey on the fifteenth followed by three consecutive par’s coming in, Figueredo finished with a smooth 66.
Daniel Polce shares second place with Figueredo after firing a six-under-par, 66 at Bent Pine Golf Club. Polce started out hot with a birdie and an eagle within his first five holes. Another birdie on his ninth hole, and the Zephyrhills native made the turn at four-under-par. Polce added on three more birdies to his second nine mixed in with a few bogeys to finish with a 66 and a share of second place.
Finally, past Champion, Jacob Huizinga, fired a five-under-par, 67 at Quail Valley Golf Club. The Orlando native birdied three out of his first four holes to make an early charge up the leaderboard. He made the turn at two-under par and then continued on to have a bogey-free back nine. Ending in style with a birdie on his 18th hole, the past champ is back in contention at the Amateur Championship with three rounds left to play.
What’s Next
Tomorrow play will continue with another round of 18 holes as the players will swap courses before the cut. After the completion of the second round tomorrow the field will be cut to the low 70 players and ties. The final 36 holes will be played at Quail Valley Golf Club. Tee times begin at 7:30 AM tomorrow.
Notable
- Quail Valley allowed 23 players to break par today with, 7 of those players breaking 70.
- Clipper Salmon held the low score at Quail Valley with a 64. Christian Figueredo only two strokes behind Salmon, carding a 66.
- There were 19 under par rounds at Bent Pine with Daniel Polce holding the low score with a 66.
- Six players broke 70 at Bent Pine.
Quotable
“It’s been awesome, they have been treating us amazing and it feels like a pro event. I just couldn’t ask for a better experience.” First round leader, Clipper Salmon, on his first experience at the Amateur Championship
“Feels great to be back in contention at the Amateur. It was fun out there and I played well. I left shots out there, but made a lot of putts to make up for it. It feels great to be back playing an Amateur event again. I drove the ball well and hit most of the greens and did not give myself any tricky 3-4 footers, just kind of scored well today.” Past champion, Jacob Huizinga
“Definitely hitting greens, I only missed one green today and then being able to make a par save when I have to is key to me playing well.” – Daniel Polce on keys to playing well
“The course is in amazing shape and the greens are really good here at Quail Valley. I love it. Tomorrow at Bent Pine I am just going to try to keep the same strategy of hitting greens and fairways and hoping my putts drop tomorrow as well.” Christian Figueredo on Quail Valley and his strategy for Bent Pine
“I really just placed the ball on the greens really well and got it rolling. These greens are really true so as long as you get the ball rolling, you have a good chance of making it.” – Clipper Salmon on Quail Valley Golf Club
