Soft conditions for round 1 at Achasta set up for low scores
Hidden in the mountains of Georgia, and located just a couple of miles away from the University of North Georgia you find the beautiful layout of Achasta Golf Club, which calls Dahlonega, GA home. The tree lined par 72 course plays home to the Southeastern Junior Golf Tour this week, as a field of 91 players take aim at becoming a champion. Clear skies and a soft golf course set players up to take it low in round one, as 16 of them finish their day at even-par or better; none better than the duo of Robert Ghirardini and Beck Burnette who fire a four under-par 68. Both players find themselves in a tie for the honor of overall male leader heading into final round action. Clara Hulsey sits atop the female leader board as current overall female leader after she carded a two over-par 74.
We are in for a shootout during the final round as we find 12 players at even or better, and within at least four shots of the lead in the male 16-19 division. Everyone is chasing the duo of Robert Ghirardini (Atlanta, GA) and Beck Burnette (Blairsville, GA) after both players card impressive rounds of four under-par 68. Ghirardini makes one of the few eagles today in route to his 68, and Burnette only has one blemish on the card today on his way to a 68. Claiming third place entering tomorrow’s action is Culloden, GA native Will Chambless who sits at one back of our leaders after firing a solid round of three under-par 69.
The male 14-15 division finds Sugar Hill, GA local Jackson Cross in the front of the pack after posting the only red-figure numbers within the division. Cross birdies three of his last six holes to complete a round of one under-par 71. Nipping at his heels is Andrew Hughes of Dawsonville, GA who finishes his day where he began, with an even-par 72. Michael Dotson (who won the 12-13 division here last year) of Cumming, GA sits at three shots behind the division leader after wrapping up his day with a score of two over-par 74.
Norcross, GA resident Shaun Cook finishes his day in first place of the male 12-13 division after a round of even-par 72. Cook will take a one shot advantage into the second and final round. Trailing him by one stroke is Bruce Murphy who calls Johns Creek, GA home. Murphy fires a nice round of one over-par 73. Three players find themselves in a tie for third place and two shots back of our leader after rounds of two over-par 74.
The female 12-19 division is led with a score of 74, and that score was turned in by Adairsville, GA resident Clara Hulsey. Aleks Golde of Atlanta, GA finds herself just one shot shy of first place after her round of three over-par 75, and she finds that position by birding two of her final four holes. Macall Miller who resides in Chickamauga, GA will enter tomorrow’s action at two strokes back after her first round score of four over-par 76.
