JB Williams (U. of Akron photo)
PORTSMOUTH, Virginia (July 13, 2017) -- We're not sure who all the top golfers are in Kentucky, but two of them are named J.B.
The more famous one of course, is J.B. Holmes, who calls Camblesville, Kentucky home.
But J.B. Williams, from Danville, continues to gain attention with his skills on the course.
Today, the recent recent Akron University graduate turned in a sizzling 8-under par 62 (just two off the course record of 60) to take the first round lead of the Eastern Amateur. Williams, playing in his third Eastern Am, was bogey free on the day, posting 4-under 31 on both sides as temperatures reached a humid 96 degrees that felt much hotter.
Recent Rice Planters Amateur winner Myles Creighton of Radford, is tied with Ben Reichert of Tennessee for second, two shots back after a 6-under par 64.
SEVEN-STRAIGHT BIRDIE HOT STREAK
Reichert, starting on the 10th hole, birdied 17 and 18 to turn at 1 under. He then ran off five more birdies for seven in a row to get to 6-under on the round. Another birdie on 7, followed by bogey at the 8th gave him the 64, with a total of nine birdies.
OTHER SCORES
Coastal Carolina golfer Luis Ruiz is alone in 4th at 5-under, followed by Jake Sollon of Rider University and Preyer Fountain of North Carolina who both shot 4-under 66.
Recent Virginia State Amateur champion Mark Lawrence (Virginia Tech) has some catching up to do after posting even par 70.
ABOUT THE Eastern Amateur
The Eastern Amateur is a 72 hole stroke play
event that perennially attracts a top-drawer field.
The tournament has been
played -- with the exception of 1977 and 1999 -- at
Elizabeth Manor Golf and Country Club. Elizabeth
Manor is a par 70 Dick Wilson design in Portsmouth,
Virginia.
The impressive list of winners includes U.S. Open
winners Curtis Strange, Ben Crenshaw, Andy Bean,
Hubert Green, Jim Furyk and Steve Jones. Other
notables who have played in the Eastern Amateur
are Lanny Wadkins, Arron Oberholser, Steve Marino,
Scott Hoch, Clarence Rose, Gary Koch, Bob Tway,
John Rollins, Fred Funk, Carl Petterson, Chip Beck,
Jim Simons, Ben Crenshaw, Steve Melnyk, Andy
Bean and Steve Liebler. Liebler won the who the
Eastern in three different decades and is the only
golfer to have ever qualified for the USGA Junior,
USGA Amateur, USGA Open, USGA Public Links,
USGA Senior Open and USGA Senior Amateur as
well
as representing his state in the USGA Team
competition.
View Complete Tournament Information