Jeansonne, Richardson take early Southern Am lead

BOWLING GREEN, Ky. (July 18, 2018) – After one round at the Southern Amateur, two players share the lead at 7-under 65. Hunter Richardson of Clarksville, Tenn., and Nathan Jeansonne of Keithville La., went low on a day when 48 of the 155 players in the field were under par.

Richardson, who just completed his senior season at Tennessee-Martin, highlighted his round with an eagle at the 11th hole and six birdies. LSU’s Jeansonne, meanwhile, went out in even par but made six birdies in a row from holes 11 thru 16 to get into contention and finished with a birdie on 18. It left him with a back-nine 29 and a share of the lead.

One shot back in a tie for third place are Stewart Slayden of Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla., and Luke Long of Fayetteville, Ark. Slayden, one of the youngest players in the field, carded eight birdies and two bogeys on his way to a 6-under 66. Long made birdies on Nos. 2, 8, 10, 11, 15, 16 and 18, and only one birdie for his almost flawless 66.

Southern Junior Champion Charlie Flynn of Shreveport, La., posted a 4-over 76 in the first round, placing him in a tie for 120th position. Flynn won the 46th Southern Junior Championship last month at Squire Creek Country Club in Choudrant, La.

Defending champion Karl Vilips is not in the field to defend his title this week. Instead, he is playing the U.S. Junior at Baltusrol Golf Club in Springfield, N.J.