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Belleville, IL - It was a beautiful and hot summer day at St. Clair Country Club for the 27th Metropolitan Junior Amateur Championship. 129 golfers signed up to play, marking the largest field in championship history. The championship consists of five divisions. The 18 and under boys and girls compete for the championship titles along with receiving the James M. Holtgrieve and Barbara A. Berkmeyer respectively. The other three divisions are the age divisions: 15 and under boys, 15 and under girls, and 13 and under boys. The course played to a par 72 with each division playing a different yardage. 

The 18 and under boys led the way this morning. There is some stiff competition in this group. John DeLuca of the Country Club of St. Albans was the first player to come in with a round under par. DeLuca had a bogey-free front nine with one birdie. Following up a bogey with another birdie on the back, DeLuca walked into the clubhouse at one-under (-1) par. One group behind were Nick Vilela of the Metropolitan eClub and Hudson Shy of Bogey Hills Country Club. Vilela had one birdie on the front and two birdies on the back to meet DeLuca at the top at one-under (-1) par. Shy had a wild round that featured three birdies and an eagle. A few bogeys, however, brought Shy back down into a tie for the lead at one-under (-1) par.  

Grady Frey of the Metropolitan eClub fought for his round all day to bring a score of even (E) par and sit in solo fourth after the first round. Five golfers are tied for fifth. Henry Millman of Old Warson Country Club, Chase Segal of Youth on Course, Mason Pollard of the Gateway PGA Junior Golf Club, Kolton Kijanko of Whitmoor Country Club, and Jackson Florek of St. Clair Country Club concluded the day at one-over (+1) par.  

The 18 and under girls were the second division out today. Avery Arendell of USGA/MetAmateur GC worked her way to the top in Round 1. Arendell’s round was highlighted by an eagle on Hole 3 and three birdies to get to five-over (+5) par. Annie Rothery of Algonquin Golf Club had two birdies today which put her in second at nine-over (+9) par. Skylar Mann of The Legends Country Club finished the day in third at eleven-over (+11), while Audrey Miller of Family Golf & Learning Center finished in fourth at twelve-over (+12). Madison Keating of Gateway PGA Junior Golf Club is in fifth at thirteen-over (+13) par.  

The third division of the day was the boys 15 and under. Anthony Moore of The Legends Country Club went bogey free after Hole 3 and carded four birdies to finish the day at the top with a score of two-under (-2) par. Not far behind are Caden Kite of the Metropolitan eClub and William Carmichael of St. Louis Country Club. Kite carded a bogey free three-under on the front and added another two birdies on the back. A few bogeys left Kite tied for second at one-under (-1). Carmichael had four birdies across his round to end the day tied for second at one-under (-1) par. Austin Donovan of the Gateway PGA Junior Golf Club shot five birdies in the first seven holes, but would end the day in fourth at one-over (+1) par. Steven Shapiro of the Metropolitan eClub is in fifth at two-over (+2).  

The girls 15 and under division was up next. Madison Pyatt of The Legends Country Club started out the day strong. Pyatt made par on the first hole and then shot an eagle on the fifth. She would end the day on top at five-over (+5) par. Bryn Winkeler of the Gateway PGA Junior Golf Club sits in second at thirteen-over (+13) par, and Cassie Albertina is in third at eighteen-over (+18) par.  

The boys 13 and under division closed out the first day. Henry Hertel of Meadowbrook Country Club had three birdies during his round to finish at the top of the leaderboard at even (E) par. Bodie Patton of The Legends Country Club also had three birdies today, but finished at one-over (+1) to sit in second. Kayden Kueper of Carlyle Lake Golf Club made birdie on the last to sit in third at seven-over (+7) par.  

All players return tomorrow for the second day. The 13 and under as well as the 15 and under divisions will play their final round tomorrow, while the 18 and under divisions will play their second of three rounds.