From Left, co-leaders Josh Leiker and Aidan Lee (Pictured internally is Ben Friedman)
Golf can be a streaky sport. One shot or one putt can get a round going. For the three leaders after the first round of the 2023 AmateurGolf.com Winter Invitational at Corica Park South Course in Alameda, Calif., the home course of AmateurGolf.com, that was exactly how they all were able to post low scores.
The weather was a perfect December day, so the Rees Jones remodeled Corica Park South Course was playable, giving up a lot of birdies for the golfers who gave themselves opportunities.
Aidan Lee of Pasadena, Calif., Ben Friedman of Mill Valley, Calif., and Josh Leiker of Rocklin, Calif., all shot 5-under 67 to lead the Championship Division. Lee started his round with two birdies to get going, Friedman shot a 31 on his back nine with five straight birdies, and Leiker holes out on Hole No. 15 from 71 yards for an eagle with a 60 degree.
Lee and Leiker played in the same group, feeding off each other's momentum.
"Today was great," Leiker said. "Hit the wedges really well and putted lights out."
Leiker added, "The course is great, and the greens are a big part of it. They roll really true and firm and fast."
Leiker and Friedman are both in high school, while Lee is a sophomore at Saint Mary's College under head coach Scott Hardy.
Ben Friedman "I have had a few rounds out here to get to know the course, which is nice," Lee said. "I played a solid round, nothing to really complain about. Started off well with two birdies and kept cruising. I wanted to stay conservative and not get too aggressive and for myself opportunities on the par-5's."
Lee added, "It was fun playing with Josh. We had a good group out here. The course was absolutely phenomenal."
Friedman, a junior in high school, is playing in his sixth event with AmateurGolf.com and has played Corica Park over ten times, so he is familiar with the layout.
After starting on Hole No. 10, Friedman made the turn to Hole No. 1 at even-par and then caught fire, recording birdies on Holes No. 3-7, including two par-3s.
Heading into tomorrow's final round, Friedman is keeping it simple.
"Hit it straight and make some birdies," Friedman said about strategy tomorrow.
However, as good as 5-under is, the golfers will have some work to do if they want to reach Joshua McCarthy's tournament record of 14-under back in 2020 and his final-round competitive course record of 7-under 64.
Sydney Silva Joey Hayden of Dublin, Calif., is in solo fourth place at 4-under and Xuan Luo of San Jose, Calif., Zack Missigman of Goodyear, Ariz., and Ian Shahwan of Yorba linda, Calif., are T5 at 3-under.
Sydney Silva of Castro Valley, Calif., is the low woman in the field at 1-under and is T12.
Senior Championship Division
In the Senior Championship Division, the scores were not as low as the Championship, with just Craig Mayamoto of Sacramento, Calif., shooting even par or better. Mayamoto finished with an even-par 72 and is two shots ahead of Bob LeDoux of Anderson, Calif.
Mayamoto recorded three birdies and three bogeys and through 13 holes, he was 2-over. He then birdied Nos. 14-16 to get to 1-under and a bogey on No. 18 put him at even par.
Four golfers are tied at 3-over at T3, including Bruce MacLean. MacLean started 3-under on his front nine, but a back nine 42 put him at 3-over.
ABOUT THE AGC Winter Invitational
>> TOUR PORTAL
The Winter Invitational is now open to all
players who satisfy the handicap
requirements.
Join us at the completely renovated Corica Park
South Course -- it's the home course of
AmateurGolf.com!
This is a gross competition with Championship and
Senior divisions. There will be no Net
division.
DIVISIONS
CHAMPIONSHIP
For players aged 16 and over who have a USGA or
equivalent index of less than 5.5
SENIOR CHAMPIONSHIP
For players age 50 and over (as of the tournament
date) with a handicap index of less than 8.0. 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.
SUPER SENIORS (subdivision of Senior)
For players age
65+. Compete alongside the younger senior players
in
the
Senior Division, (same tees, same prize
opportunities) and if there are at least six players 65
or
over, a
separate prize and trophy will be awarded for low
super senior.
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.
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