Josh Kirkham takes early lead at Illinois State Amateur

BLOOMINGTON, Ill. — Josh Kirkham posted a 5-under 65 in Monday's opening round to grab a two-shot lead at the Illinois State Amateur Championship, where 72 holes of stroke play at Crestwicke Country Club will determine who lifts the Louis L. Emmerson Trophy and earns an exemption into the U.S. Amateur at Merion.

Kirkham leads a quartet at 3-under: TJ Barger (Bloomington), Ryan Andrews (Libertyville), Dominic Lucchesi (Grayslake) and Patrick Raupp (Arlington Heights) - after the foursome carded rounds of 68 amidst a toasty day that saw heat indexes hit 100 degrees.