Memorial Amateur: 7-way tie at the top

CARMICHAEL, Calif. (May 26, 2012) -- After round one of the 15th annual Memorial Amateur played at Ancil Hoffman Golf Course, there is huge logjam at the top of the leaderboard. In fact there are seven players tied for the lead who all fired 2-under-par 68's on the 6889 yard par 70 track. The seven include defending champion, John Caitlin who plays out of Ancil Hoffman, Dave Baskins of El Macero CC who recently won the Sacramento County Senior that was played at Ancil Hoffman, Shotaro Ban of Saratoga CC, Niall Platt of La Cumbre CC, Austin Smotherman of Turkey Creek GC, Sebastian Valquez of Club de Golf Mexico and Audrey Bevins. Weston Payne of Menlo CC and Eric Taylor of Ancil Hoffman are at 69. Jonny Baxter of Castlewood CC, Alexander Reno of Fountain Grove GAC, Andrew Warren of Metropolitan GC are all at even par 70. The tournament that honors "Memorial Day" and it significance continues tomorrow with a cut after 36 holes. The final round is on Monday. The Memorial is a Golfweek/amateurgolf.com national ranking tournament.