20th St. Augustine Amateur Mid-Tournament Update: Moffitt Leads After Opening 66

Round 1 of the 20th St. Augustine Amateur is in the books, and Southern Miss freshman Jake Moffitt has grabbed early control of the leaderboard with a 5-under-par 66 at St. Johns Golf Club. The 54-hole World Amateur Golf Ranking event runs December 5–7 in Elkton, Florida, and officials expected a deep, diverse field for this anniversary edition. Friday delivered exactly that — along with enough wind to keep scoring from getting out of hand — setting up a compelling weekend chase.

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Round 1 Recap: Windy Day, Tight Leaderboard

With temperatures rising from 60 degrees at sunrise to nearly 80 by afternoon, St. Johns Golf Club played firm, fast, and tricky in steady winds that reached 20 mph. Only 12 players managed to break par 71, and the opening-round scoring average settled at 74.74 — a clear sign the course still has plenty of bite even in ideal golf weather.

Moffitt’s 66 featured six birdies and just one bogey, the lone blemish coming at the par-4 ninth — statistically the hardest hole of the day. The 19-year-old from Ripley, Mississippi, continues a standout 2025 season that included winning the Mississippi Amateur by a record 10 strokes and earning a spot in the 2025 U.S. Amateur at Olympic Club.

One shot behind at 4-under 67 is Alexander Rowland, an Englishman now playing his college golf at Arkansas-Little Rock. Rowland offset a double bogey at No. 9 with seven birdies, including back-to-back circles at 17 and 18 to close strong and stay within striking distance.

Leaderboard Highlights After Round 1

Three players share third place at 3-under 68:

• Rory Asselta — New Jersey High School Player of the Year
• Adam Vermut — North Florida senior, 6-foot-6 and trending up this fall
• Ian Lentz — University of Florida student with a steady opening round

Four more sit two shots back at 2-under 69, led by Mick Herron of Rollins College. Herron’s presence is especially notable after twin brother PJ (Flagler College) withdrew Friday morning due to illness. Also at 69:

• Finn Burkholder — Mississippi State commit from The Woodlands, Texas
• Jack Burr — Huntingdon College All-American and one of the field’s proven low-round threats
• Michael Sass — former College of Charleston golfer and local Ponte Vedra Beach resident

Course Notes: St. Johns Still Shaping the Tournament

St. Johns Golf Club’s renovated par-71 layout (7,034 yards) again delivered a balance of birdie opportunities and genuine volatility. Friday’s hole stats underscored a familiar theme:

• Hardest Hole (Round 1): No. 9, par 4 — 4.73 stroke average
• Easiest Hole (Round 1): No. 11, par 5 — 4.37 stroke average

The course remains a rewarding test for disciplined ball-strikers, particularly when the wind rises — and weekend conditions could shift strategy again.

Round 1 Field Statistics

• Birdies (Field): 267
• Eagles (Field): 14
• Scoring Average: 74.74

What’s Next: Round 2 Begins Saturday

Play continues Saturday and Sunday with rain forecast late Saturday and throughout Sunday, which could magnify the course’s toughest stretches and tighten the margins even further. Saturday tee times run from 8:30–10:30 a.m. off both the first and 10th tees, with the leaders set to go last off No. 1.

With a dozen players already under par and plenty of proven low-round scorers sitting close behind, Round 2 should bring meaningful movement — especially if conditions soften and the wind stays a factor.

Follow the weekend in real time on AmateurGolf.com’s St. Augustine Amateur live scoring page