POTOMAC FALLS, Va. – Brad Dalke took the first-round lead Tuesday in the Junior PGA Championship and Samantha Wagner topped the girls’ leaderboard.
The 15-year-old Dalke, from Hobart, Okla., shot a 6-under 65 at Trump National Golf Club - Washington, D.C., and the 16-year-old Wagner, from Windermere, Fla., opened with a 67.
Dalke had six birdies in his bogey-free round.
''I played really well all day and hit a whole lot of fairways and a lot of greens,’' Dalke said. ''I missed some medium-length putts and could have gone lower, but I’m happy with a 65, for sure.’'
Wagner, coming off her sophomore season in high school, has already committed to the University of Florida.
''It was nice to birdie my first hole and that gave me a boost heading into the rest of the round,’' Wagner said. ''When I needed to get up and down today I did, and when I had a birdie chance I was able to make it.’'
Sam Stevens of Wichita, Kan., was second in the boys’ division at 66. Jacob Solomon of Dublin, Calif.; Cameron Champ of Sacramento, Calif.; and Austin Connelly of Irving, Texas, followed at 68.
Kuriko Tsukiyama of West New York, N.J., was second in the girls’ division at 69.