News

Eureka, MO - The first round of the 25th Metropolitan Junior Amateur Championship has been completed at Aberdeen Golf Club. The twenty-fifth playing of this championship sees the 19 and under divisions switch to a 54-hole format over the course of three days. It was a beautiful day for Round 1 at Aberdeen with sunny skies and temperatures in the low-80s. We had 88 players register for the championship across the four divisions. The 19 and under boys went off first this morning, followed by the 19 and under girls, then the 15 and under boys, and finally the 13 and under boys. All players started on Hole 1 with the first group beginning at 7:00am and scores finalized by 4:40pm.
 

In the boys’ 19 and under division, there were some close scores for much of the day. Eight players finished the day even par or better. Isaac Kelley of Weldon Spring was the first to come into the clubhouse under par at two-under (-2). Kelley made the turn even on the day, but carded an eagle on hole 17 to get to two-under. The next to come in under par was Cole Packingham of Lake St. Louis at one-under (-1) par, who would later be joined by Anders Thomas of Wildwood on the leaderboard. The big story of the day came from Harper Ackermann of Webster Groves. Ackermann, an incoming Senior at Christian Brothers College High School, shot a bogey-free six-under (-6) par. After making the turn at two-under (-2) par, he turned the jets on to make two birdies and an eagle for a back nine four-under (-4) par. This final score was a new personal record for Ackermann and would give him the outright lead by four strokes after day one.  

In the girls’ division, players remained close throughout the day as well. Sarah Hyten of Edwardsville, IL fought to claim the lead, and keep it during her round. Hyten, an incoming Junior at Father McGivney High School, made the turn at one-under (-1) par and then worked to make it to two-under (-2) par on the back. She would sit with the solo lead at the end of the day at two-under (-2) par. Behind Hyten in solo second is Emma Hill of Edwardsville, IL at three-over (+3) par, while tied for third is Ally Suhre Edwardsville, IL and Sara Kolar St. Louis at four-over (+4) par.  

The 13 and under and 15 and under divisions were not too much different from the overall divisions with the close leaderboards. John DeLuca of Chesterfield leads the 15 and under division at even (E) par. DeLuca fought back after an up-and-down front nine to get and keep his score at par. Owen Zastrow of Washington had held a lead on the back stretch, but was unable to hold on to it. Zastrow does, however, sit in solo second at two-over (+2) par. In the 13 and under division, Houston Tiefenbrunn of Washington leads the group at one-over (+1) par. Following in behind in solo second is Austin Telle of Kirkwood at five-over (+5) par. Both of these divisions will compete in their final round of the week tomorrow.  

Players will return on Wednesday for another day of golf. The 19 and under divisions will compete in the second of three rounds, while the 15 and 13 and under divisions will play their final rounds. Play will begin again at 7:00am.

 

Round 1 Leaderboard
Round 2 Groupings and Start Times