Top junior Miles Russell extends lead at South Beach International

December 21, 2024 | by Justin Golba of AmateurGolf.com

Miles Russell (PGA of America Photo)

Russell led after 36 holes in the 2023 championship and will look to finish the job this year at Miami Beach Golf Club

For the second year in a row, standout junior golfer Miles Russell leads the South Beach International Amateur at Miami Beach Golf Club and Normandy Shores Golf Course in Miami, Fla.

Last year, Russell finished T2 behind Ben James. However, he did set the course record with a second-round 10-under 60 at Normandy Shores in 2023.

Now, he is leading the prestigious amateur event by three shots at 18-under behind rounds of 63-68-63. Lev Grinberg of Ukraine is in solo second place at 15-under. Henry Guan is in solo third place at 14-under and is four shots back of Russell.

Russell has recorded 20 birdies and two bogeys in the championship.

Alex Heffner, Cooper Claycomb, and Jack Schoenberger are T4 at 11-under to round out the top five.

The South Beach International has had a great group of winners, specifically Luke Clanton and Ben James, who have won the last two iterations. Clanton is ranked No. 1 in the Golfweek/AmateurGolf.com World Rankings, and James is ranked No. 2.

As the reigning Rolex Junior Player of the Year, Miles Russell of Jacksonville Beach, Florida, will receive an exemption into the 2024 Butterfield Bermuda Championship. The 15-year-old earned the 2023 Rolex Player of the Year award after an outstanding season that included three AJGA victories.

Results: The International Amateur

Place	Player	Location	Pts	Scores
1	Miles Russell	Jacksonville, FL	1000	63-68-63-70=264
2	Henry Guan	Dallas, TX	700	64-68-66-68=266
3	Alex Heffner	Harrisburg, NC	500	65-68-68-67=268
4	Lev Grinberg	, Ukraine	500	66-65-66-72=269
5	J. Holland Humphries	Austin, TX	500	69-69-67-65=270

View full results for The International Amateur

About the The International Amateur

Top junior Miles Russell extends lead at South Beach International

72-hole event with 36-hole cut. Open to highly ranked amateurs, college players, mid-amateurs and juniors. Non-exempt players must submit a playing resume to be considered for the field.