LOST PINES, TX (August 5, 2016) -- Brady Price and Brady Purdom both fired a 3-under par 69 in the first round of the 2016 South Amateur Championship. The duo have a one stroke lead over Garrett Velarde and Austin Cotton, who sit at 2-under par 70. Wolfdancer Golf Club, southeast of Austin in Lost Pines, is the host site for this year’s Championship.

The Woodlands’ Price got off to a hot start with two birdies in his first six holes. Price gave one back with a bogey on his eight hole, the par three 17th. Price was able to keep his cool and he followed it up with another birdie on the par five 18th to turn at 2-under par 34. Price carded two birdies and one bogey on his second nine, to post a 3-under par 69. Price shares the one stroke lead with Brady Purdom.

Friendswood’s Purdom didn’t get off to the start that he hoped after carding two bogies in his first five holes. He tried to get it going after a birdie on the par four seventh, but he gave his stroke away with a bogey on the following hole. After turning at 2-over par 38, Purdom was able to turn it on. Purdom fired four birdies in the next six holes. Purdom gave one back with a bogey on the par four 16th but he was able to bounce back with an eagle on the par five 18th. Purdom carded a 5-under par 31 on his second nine to join Price at 3- under par. Price and Purdom hold a tight lead over five players are within three shots of the lead.

Garrett Velarde, of Houston, got off to a steady start with two pars on his first two holes but gave one back with a bogey on the par five third hole. Velarde was able to bounce back and card two birdies on Holes 4 and 5 to get to 1-under par. Velarde gave another back on the par four ninth to turn at even par 36. Velarde made two more birdies and one bogey on his second nine on his way to an opening round 2-under par 70.

Austin Cotton, of Austin, joined Velarde after carding a 2-under par round of 70. Cotton opened his round with five pars on his opening five holes. He gave one back with a bogey on his sixth hole, the par four 15th. Cotton bounced back with a birdie on the par five 18th to turn at even par 36. He wasn’t able to keep the momentum going and he gave the shot right back on the par four first hole. Cotton bounced back and recorded three birdies in his last five holes and joined Velarde at 2-under par.

Danny Simmerman, of Shavano Park, trails by two strokes after carding a 1-under par 71. The 2016 South Mid-Amateur Champion sits in solo fifth. Right behind Simmerman at even par 72 are Joseph Naffah, of San Antonio, and Alex Travanovich, of League City.

Wolfdancer Golf Club played host to the 2012 Texas Senior Four-Ball. The Arthur Hills design, which is situated at Hyatt Regency Lost Pines Resort and Spa, opened in 2006.

The second round of the 2016 South Amateur Championship begins at 8:00 a.m. CDT on Saturday

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