Colleyville’s Atkinson, who started on the tenth hole, made birdie on holes 11 through 13 and added a fourth on the par-4 18th to go out in 4-under. He added a birdie on the par-4 third and the par-5 fifth before surrendering a shot on the par-4 eighth, which was his only bogey of the day.
Atkinson is a two-time champion of the North Mid-Amateur champion. Atkinson won in 2013 and 2015 both contested at Trophy Club Country Club.
Laying chase to Atkinson is Fort Worth’s Will Osborne who turned in a 2-under-par, 68. Also starting on the tenth hole, Osborne recorded back-to-back birdies on the 445-yard 13th and the 602-yard 14th. A bogey on the 17th saw him turn at 1-under. Two more birdies and a bogey on the front side saw Osborne match his outward score for an overall 2-under-par total.
Osborne finished runner-up in the 2017 edition of the North Mid-Amateur which helped springboard him to win the 2017 North Regional Player of the year. In addition to the runner-up finish, Osborne finished tied for 11th at the North Amateur and won the North Four-Ball with partner Joshua Irving that year.
Sitting four back is Tyler’s Aaron Hickman, Brad Beeson of Dallas, Patrick Stayer of Dallas and Fort Worth’s Jeff Murray who carded a 1-under-par, 69. 2017 North Mid-Amateur Champion Gant Bills shot a 2-over-par, 72.
In addition to the Overall Champion, there is recognition for the low Mid-Master Player. A Mid-Master player is identified by being 40 years or older at the time of the first round. Pat Stayer leads the recognition by one over Diamond Oaks Country Club’s 2017 Club Champion Kenneth Leasley of North Richland Hills.
