Niezing Leads the Metropolitan Amateur After Round 1
Ladue, MO - It is a hot one at Bellerive Country Club for the first round of the 34th Metropolitan Amateur Championship. The full field of 156 players were split into two waves going off holes 1 and 10. The morning wave began at 7:15am.
As players made their way around the course in the morning, the day was just getting heated up. Many players kept themselves within arms reach of the top of the leaderboard, but it was Justin Bryant of St. Louis Country Club that claimed the top spot. Bryant started his round at 8:32am on Hole 1. A solid player, it didn’t take long for Bryant to get off to a good start. Coming out of the gate with a birdie on both Holes 1 and 2, he was making a statement. A bogey-free front nine and another birdie on the 8th gave Bryant the outright lead at three-under par. A little trouble on back nine left Justin wanting more from his round and he would finish at one-under (-1) par. This was still enough for him to be in the number one position at the end of the morning wave. Coming in behind Bryant for the morning were Zach Walsh of Forest Hills Country Club and Chris Kovach of Old Hickory Golf Club at even (E) par.
By the time these players were off the property, the afternoon wave was on the course and staying toe-to-toe with the leaders in the clubhouse. Then we had to wait for the afternoon wave to complete their round to see if these scores hold.
As the afternoon wave took to the course, many players tried to capture a piece of the lead. Chad Niezing of Meadowbrook Country Club was successful in this endeavor as he climbed to the top of the leaderboard. Carding a bogey-free front nine, Niezing made the turn at two-under (-2) par. On the back, Niezing did make a bogey on Hole 14 but canceled it out with a birdie on the next hole. Niezing would finish the day at two-under (-2) par with a one shot lead. Drew Pranger of Glen Echo Country Club tried to share the lead with Niezing and stayed right there with him for much of his round. Pranger would get a bogey on his way into the clubhouse that would send him back into a tie for second with Bryant at one-under (-1) par. Tom Buffington of the USGA/MetAmateur GC also earned a bogey-free front nine with two birdies to place himself at one-under (-1) par and into the tie for second.
By the end of the day, Zach Walsh of Forest Hills Country Club, Chris Kovach of Old Hickory Golf Club, and Corey Choate of The Legends Country Club were not far off the lead at even (E) par. Four players are sitting in a tie for eighth at one-over (+1) par. Players gave it their all today in hot conditions and are ready to come back for Round 2 tomorrow. The groupings will remain the same, but the morning and afternoon waves will swap for Round 2.