Rolex Tournament of Champions: Aphrodite Deng and Nicholas Gross lead after Round One

11/19/2023 | by American Junior Golf Association

Aphrodite Deng (AJGA Photo)

Deng and Gross both shot a 4-under 68 to lead the their respective divisions after the opening round.

Aphrodite Deng and Nicholas Gross lead the 46th annual Rolex Tournament of Champions hosted at TPC San Antonio with scores of 4-under-par 68.

This year's Rolex Tournament of Champions features 80 players competing over four days for the coveted year-end title. The field includes 45 players committed to play college golf, 67 past AJGA champions, and 65 Rolex Junior All-Americans.

Deng's first-round 4-under-par 68 currently has her in the lead by one stroke over Lisa Herman.

Deng started her day on the back nine, where her only bogey came on No. 14. Deng caught fire as she turned to the front nine, carding birdies on holes one through five. She finished her final 9-holes at 5-under-par 31.

Deng is one of the youngest competitors in the Girls Division field. This week marks the 2028 graduates' first appearance in the Rolex Tournament of Champions. Deng is currently No. 34 in the Rolex AJGA Rankings and was named a Rolex Junior All-American this fall.

Vanessa Zhang is currently in solo third at 2-under-par 70. Followed behind in a three-way tie for fourth are Megan Meng, Ryleigh Knaub, and Jasmine Koo, all at 1-under-par 71.

BOY'S DIVISION

Nicholas Gross

Gross took the first-round Boys Division lead after putting up a bogey-free first round. The current senior opened his day on No. 1 with a birdie and continued the red numbers on Nos. 7, 12 and 13. Gross has a two-stroke lead over Ieuan Jones, who is currently at 2-under-par 70.

Gross is no stranger to AJGA invitationals. The University of Alabama commit took home his first invitational win earlier this year at the AJGA Simplify Boys Championship at Carlton Woods.

Gross is a three-time Rolex Junior All-American and making his fourth Rolex Tournament of Champions appearance.

Three boys round out the top five, all tied at 1-under-par 71; Hamilton Coleman, Michael Riebe, and Jake Albert.

About the AJGA Tournament of Champions

The Rolex Tournament of Champions features 84 of the best junior golfers in the world. The tournament assembles the Rolex Junior All-Americans with the past year’s champions to create The Greatest Week in Junior Golf. Format is 72 holes of stroke pla...

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