Denzel Ieremia leads Pacific Coast Amateur

University Place, Washington (July 18, 2017) -- Round one of the 51st Pacific Coast Amateur Championship lived up to the hype with a series of world-class scores posted at the par 71, 7367 yard Puget Sound layout. Taking reign of the 18-hole lead was Hamilton, New Zealand’s Denzel Ieremia after a blistering five-under-par 66. Ieremia, a member of the Iowa State Cyclones men’s golf team, was in the second group off today and immediately took advantage of his presidential invitation in the field due to a tenth or better finish last year. Ieremia carded a single bogey on his card, offset by six birdies in his relatively uneventful day by Chambers Bay terms. A single stroke behind Ieremia is John Oda of Honolulu, Hawaii with a score of four-under-par 67. Oda had his score level with Ieremia through 16 but a bogey on 17 cost him a chance to be tied heading into day two. A strong start however for the UNLV Rebel puts him within striking distance with a lot of golf left to play. With a leaderboard that has 17 players under par, including a pair of Texans in defending champion Will Zalatoris of Plano and reigning low US Open amateur Scottie Scheffler of Dallas, second round action will surely produce fireworks in University Place. The Morse Cup after 18-holes has a leaderboard that is just as congested as the main stroke play line. Southern Nevada holds a three-stroke lead over both Pacific Northwest and Southern California golf associations and ready to capitalize on early mistakes tomorrow are Colorado, Idaho and Wyoming golf associations in the 36-hole sub-Championship competition. Round two begins tomorrow at 7:30am with entrance for spectators continuing to be free of charge.