Palmetto Amateur: Will Long takes early lead

AIKEN, S.C. (June 4, 2014) -- Auburn's Will Long holds the first-round lead after Round 1 at the 2014 Palmetto Amateur. Ole Miss signee Joshua Seiple and Ben Dietrich of the University of South Carolina are tied for second place at Palmetto Golf Club in the official kickoff to the summer invitational season for the game's top collegiate stars. Long carded seven birdies on his round to shoot a 5-under 65 and lead all scorers while Seiple and Dietrich shot 4-under 66s. Two-time Dixie Amateur champion and LSU star Curtis Thompson is fourth after a 3-under 67 that included an eagle-3 on the par-5 14th. Six players sit tied for fifth place just three shots behind Long's leading score. All told, there are nine players inside of three shots of the lead and seven more within four shots entering Round 2 of the 72-hole stroke-play championship. Played on the classic Alister MacKenzie design, the field of 84 is selected from applicants based on handicap, participation in amateur golf events and competitive record, in previous Palmetto Amateurs and other amateur tournaments. It's loaded with many of the top players in the college ranks. Notable first-round scores include: Clemson's Cody Proveaux (1-under, T-11), Davis Love IV (1-under, T-11), Azalea champion Will Murphy (E, T-18), recent Memorial Amateur champion Cameron Champ (1-over, T-22) and South Carolina's Matthew NeSmith (2-over, T-34). For a full look at the loaded leaderboard, follow the results link below.