Sciolis and Anderson/Balent lead the charge at Hermitage

The Hermitage Golf Course just outside Nashville, TN played host to the SJGT for the first time today. Round one of the Hermitage Junior Classic got started at noon on the General's Retreat course, measuring at just over 6700 yards for our longest tees. Leading the way in the female championship is Gittle Sciolis, whilst Carter Anderson and Peyton Balent share the overall male lead.

Sciolis carded a strong 76 today to hold a three-stroke lead at the top of the overall female championship leaderboard. Starting on hole #1, Sciolis got out of the gates fast with an opening birdie. Despite a turbelant front nine, the Bremen, GA native carded eight pars on the back nine to come home at four-over par total. Sitting in second place is Kaylie Herring of Gulf Breeze, FL. The 2020 grad opened her tournament with a 79 today that included an impressive three birdies over the tricky General's layout. Third overall, and leading the female 12-14 division, is Taylor Reeves. An opening round of 80 leaves Reeves just four back of the overall elad heading into tomorrow's final round.

The male 12-13 division saw an under-par round take the lead today. Austin Bibb of Eads, TN shot an opening 71 to sit two strokes ahead of his nearest competitor. Bibb made five birdies today, including two on a flawless back nine score of 34. Second in the division is Miller Drummond. An opening 73 gives Drummond a good chance of catching the leader tomorrow, whilst he also sits four strokes clear of third place. Rounding out the top three is Matthew Downing of Oxford, MS. Playing in his third SJGT event of the 2018 season, Downing opened with a solid round of 77.

Three under-par rounds make up the top-three of the overall male championship. Leading at two-under par are Carter Anderson and Peyton Balent. Both players shot rounds of 70 and made an incredible 12 birdies between them (six birdies each). Both players will look to hit the ground running early tomorrow and break away from a tightly congested chasing pack. Sitting in third place, with an opening round of 71, is Carter Loflin. The lowest round of his season so far, Loflin has a real chance of scaring the leaders tomorrow with some birdies early in his round.

Please visit our Facebook and BlueGolf pages for tournament information and scores from round one.