Western Am: 3 share first-round lead

ROLAND, Ark. (July 30, 2013) -- Sam Smith, Camern Wilson and Seth Reeves each fired 7-under 65s to take a share of the lead in first-round action at the 2013 Western Amateur at The Aoltian Club. Smith, of Turlock, Calif. and USC, carded nine birdies en route to his share of the two-shot lead. Reeves, the two-time Southeastern Champion, who plays at Georgia Tech, made eight birdies against just one bogey in his first-round. Wilson, of Stanford, was flawless in his round, making seven birdies to share the lead. Perhaps the two hottest golfers in the field, Jordan Niebrugge of Oklahoma State and Texas A&M product Tyler Dunlap shot 6-under 66 to share second place. Niebrugge, of course, won the U.S. Amateur Public Links Championship last week before taking the Wisconsin State Amateur while Dunlap took second place at this past weekend's Porter Cup and was medalist at a New York U.S. Amateur qualifier on Monday. Two more Stanford standouts --- two-time Walker Cup pick Patrick Rodgers and Andrew Yun --- are tied for sixth. The teammates shot 5-under 67 in Round 1. Cal's Michael Weaver, the runner-up at last year's U.S. Amateur, shot 4-under 68 and is tied for eighth. Weaver is under strong consideration for one of the three remaining non-mid amateur spots on the U.S. Walker Cup. Weaver's tied with four others, including Toni Hakula, from Finland by way of the University of Texas, who continued his hot play. After shooting 66-64 to close out his fifth-place finish at last week's Porter Cup, Hakula shot 4-under 68. He's alone in fifth place after Round 1. Todd White, under consideration for one of the mid-am positions on the Walker Cup squad, shot 3-under 69 and is tied with a large group of others. The Western Amateur features 56 of the world's top 100 players and is annually one of the season's best events. The international event is a true test. Tuesday's first round began 72 holes of stroke play, which is followed by a 16-player match-play event. For full field results, use the link below.