Young and Lehman Tied for First-Round Lead at Foot Joy Invitational

Greensboro, N.C. — Carson Young of Pendleton, S.C., and J.D. Lehman of Bluffton, S.C., are tied for the first-round lead at the FJ Invitational after firing matching 4-under-par 66s at Sedgefield Country Club – Donald Ross Course in Greensboro, N.C.

Conducted by the American Junior Golf Association, the FJ Invitational is a 72-hole stroke play competition played on the par-70 Donald Ross Course at Sedgefield Country Club. The event features 84 boys, ages 15-18, from 26 states and four countries. The Boys Division plays the course at 7,097 yards.

Lehman got hot on the back nine, riding four birdies and no bogeys to a 4-under-par score on the side, a stark contrast to his up-and-down time on the front, where he had three bogeys, birdies and pars.

“It was weird, but you just keep playing every shot as it comes and it worked out,” Lehman said.

Young, a senior committed to play at Clemson in the fall, used stellar iron play to hit 16 greens on the day, which compensated for the fact that he only hit five fairways.

“Irons and approach shots were the key,” Young said. “ [They] helped me feel good and gave me confidence.”

Young will use that momentum boost heading into the final three rounds, as he knows it will take similar showings on each day with such a strong field.

“I’m looking to do the same thing tomorrow,” Young said. “I’m playing with the best juniors in America, it’s big time.”

Matt Gilchrest, who is in a tie for third, of Southlake, Texas, sits at 2-under-par after an opening-round 68. Gilchrest, who played with Young, said watching him helped elevate his level of play as they matched each other shot-for-shot. Gilchrest, a senior, said facing that level of competition is a perfect reminder about just how special playing in invitationals can be.

“I really didn’t realize how special [invitationals] were until the end,” Gilchrest said. “I only have two left.”

Also in a tie for third, after a 2-under-par 68, is George Cunningham of Tucson, Ariz., who highlighted his round with an ace at No. 12. The ace came from 238 yards out with a 3-iron on the downhill 12th hole, it hit, took a hard bounce left and found its way into the hole.

Ben Schlottman from Advance, N.C., 15 minutes away from Sedgefield, had a rough morning, but it turned out well as he finished in a tie for third with a 2-under-par 68. Schlottman woke up 45 minutes before his tee time and ate breakfast on the run, but some smooth putting and good iron play allowed him to finish high.

“I hit the ball worse than I have in a long time,” Schlottman said. “But I was two feet from the hole on almost every hole on the back, so that helped. I’ll hit it better tomorrow.”

Tied for sixth with 1-under-par 69s are Raul Pereda de la Huerta of Cordoba, Mexico, and Benjamin Griffin of Chapel Hill, N.C. In a four-way tie for eighth are Davis Riley of Hattiesburg, Miss., William Register of Burlington, N.C., Jonathan Hardee of Greer, S.C., and Drew Johnson of Oak Ridge N.C.

Second-round tee times will run from 7-11:30 a.m. off the No. 1 tee at Sedgefield Country Club – Donald Ross Course. For more information about the FJ Invitational, please contact Tournament Headquarters at (336)218-0077.

About the AJGA

The American Junior Golf Association is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to the overall growth and development of young men and women who aspire to earn college golf scholarships through competitive junior golf. The AJGA provides valuable exposure for college golf scholarships, and has an annual junior membership (boys and girls ages 12-18) of approximately 6,000 junior golfers from 49 states and more than 50 countries. To ensure scholarship opportunities for all junior golfers who have the skill, the AJGA created the Achieving Competitive Excellence (ACE) Grant program to provide financial assistance to young players in need.

Titleist, the AJGA’s National Sponsor, has been the catalyst and driving force behind the Association’s success since 1989. Rolex, which is in its fourth decade of AJGA support, became the inaugural AJGA Premier Partner in 2004. In 2007, after 12 years of support, Ralph Lauren became the AJGA’s second Premier Partner.

AJGA alumni have risen to the top of amateur, collegiate and professional golf. Former AJGA juniors have compiled more than 500 victories on the PGA and LPGA Tours. AJGA alumni include Brandt Snedeker, Bubba Watson, Webb Simpson, Hunter Mahan, Phil Mickelson, Tiger Woods, Stacy Lewis, Vicky Hurst, Paula Creamer, Cristie Kerr, Brittany Lincicome and Morgan Pressel.


GREENSBORO, N.C. — First Round results from the FJ Invitational conducted by the American Junior Golf Association at Sedgefield Country Club.
Boys Par: 35-35–70. Yardage: 7097. Rating: 75. Slope: 143

Boys Division

Carson Young, Pendleton, S.C. (2013) 32-34–66 -4
J.D. Lehman, Bluffton, S.C. (2013) 35-31–66 -4
Matt Gilchrest, Southlake, Texas (2013) 33-35–68 -2
George Cunningham, Tucson, Ariz. (2014) 33-35–68 -2
Ben Schlottman, Advance, N.C. (2014) 34-34–68 -2
Raul Pereda de la Huerta, Cordoba, Mexico (2014) 35-34–69 -1
Benjamin Griffin, Chapel Hill, N.C. (2014) 34-35–69 -1
Davis Riley, Hattiesburg, Miss. (2015) 33-37–70 E
William Register, Burlington, N.C. (2014) 36-34–70 E
Jonathan Hardee, Greer, S.C. (2014) 34-36–70 E
Drew Johnson, Oak Ridge, N.C. (2013) 33-37–70 E
Stephen Saleeby, Raleigh, N.C. (2015) 34-37–71 +1
Brad Dalke, Hobart, Okla. (2016) 37-34–71 +1
Austin Connelly, Irving, Texas (2015) 32-39–71 +1
Tae Wan Lee, Orlando, Fla. (2013) 36-35–71 +1
KK Limbhasut, Loma Linda, Calif. (2014) 35-36–71 +1
Zecheng Dou, Beijing, China (2015) 35-36–71 +1
Ben Dietrich, Bluffton, S.C. (2013) 35-36–71 +1
Tyler McDaniel, Manchester, Ky. (2015) 35-36–71 +1
Nicolo Galletti, Phoenix, Ariz. (2013) 37-34–71 +1
Clancy Waugh, North Palm Beach, Fla. (2013) 34-37–71 +1
Fred Allen Meyer, Nicholasville, Ky. (2014) 35-36–71 +1
Luis Gagne, Orlando, Fla. (2015) 36-35–71 +1
Thomas Walsh, High Point, N.C. (2015) 34-38–72 +2
Max Greyserman, Short Hills, N.J. (2013) 34-38–72 +2
Cheng Jin, Singapore, Singapore (2017) 33-39–72 +2
Jimmy Stanger, Tampa, Fla. (2013) 36-36–72 +2
Michael Pisciotta, Alpharetta, Ga. (2014) 38-34–72 +2
Joshua Martin, Pinehurst, N.C. (2015) 36-36–72 +2
Jonathan Vasquez, Bryan, Texas (2014) 39-33–72 +2
Daniel De La Garza, Austin, Texas (2013) 35-37–72 +2
Andrew Bieber, Shaker Heights, Ohio (2013) 36-36–72 +2
Collin Morikawa, La Canada Flintridge, Calif. (2015) 37-35–72 +2
Justin Kim, Fullerton, Calif. (2016) 37-35–72 +2
Alexander Levy, Austin, Texas (2013) 36-37–73 +3
Jakob Garstecki, Germantown, Wis. (2013) 36-37–73 +3
Keenan Huskey, Greenville, S.C. (2014) 36-37–73 +3
Peter Kim, Metuchen, N.J. (2013) 35-38–73 +3
Zachary Bauchou, Forest, Va. (2015) 36-37–73 +3
Andrew Novak, Mount Pleasant, S.C. (2013) 38-35–73 +3
Noah Edmondson, Davidson, N.C. (2015) 36-37–73 +3
Ryan Cole, Mount Airy, Md. (2013) 36-37–73 +3
Connor Smith, Shoal Creek, Ala. (2014) 37-36–73 +3
Theo Humphrey, Greenwich, Conn. (2014) 35-38–73 +3
Corey Carlson, Green Cove Springs, Fla. (2015) 36-37–73 +3
Matthew Lowe, Farmingdale, N.Y. (2014) 39-34–73 +3
Robert Deng, Irvine, Calif. (2013) 37-36–73 +3
Matthew Weber, Saint Charles, Ill. (2014) 35-38–73 +3
James Park, Deerfield, Mass. (2013) 37-37–74 +4
Joshua Seiple, Castle Rock, Colo. (2014) 38-36–74 +4
Carl Yuan, Lake Mary, Fla. (2015) 38-36–74 +4
Sam Burns, Shreveport, La. (2015) 37-37–74 +4
Rigel Fernandes, Bradenton, Fla. (2013) 36-38–74 +4
Blake Messer, Hampton Cove, Ala. (2013) 37-37–74 +4
Tiger Lee, Howey in the Hills, Fla. (2015) 36-38–74 +4
Hayden Wood, Edmond, Okla. (2014) 35-39–74 +4
James Clark, III, Columbus, Ga. (2014) 38-36–74 +4
Ryan Orr, Belleair, Fla. (2013) 35-40–75 +5
Jimmy Makloski, Pueblo, Colo. (2013) 37-38–75 +5
Brendon Doyle, Louisville, Ky. (2014) 36-39–75 +5
Doug Ghim, Arlington Heights, Ill. (2014) 38-37–75 +5
Jacob Joiner, Albany, Ga. (2014) 39-36–75 +5
Kyle Sterbinsky, Yardley, Pa. (2015) 37-38–75 +5
Ryan Celano, Naples, Fla. (2014) 36-39–75 +5
Harold Calubid, Long Beach, Calif. (2014) 36-39–75 +5
Blake Barens, Villa Park, Calif. (2013) 39-37–76 +6
Nick Hardy, Northbrook, Ill. (2014) 38-38–76 +6
Dylan Wu, Medford, Ore. (2014) 37-39–76 +6
Joo-Young Lee, Hilliard, Ohio (2013) 37-39–76 +6
Carter Thompson, Tallahassee, Fla. (2014) 37-39–76 +6
Max Mcgreevy, Edmond, Okla. (2013) 40-36–76 +6
Justin Connelly, McDonough, Ga. (2013) 36-40–76 +6
Preston Fleenor, Mission Hills, Kan. (2015) 41-36–77 +7
Luke Graboyes, Watchung, N.J. (2013) 35-42–77 +7
Pablo Rincon Gallardo, Queretaro, Mexico (2014) 39-38–77 +7
Christopher Petefish, Danville, Calif. (2014) 39-38–77 +7
Rylee Reinertson, Gibbon, Neb. (2014) 37-40–77 +7
Raymond Knoll, Naperville, Ill. (2013) 39-38–77 +7
Evan DeRoche, Key West, Fla. (2014) 38-39–77 +7
Danny Walker, Bradenton, Fla. (2014) 37-41–78 +8
Brandon Pierce, Covington, La. (2013) 41-38–79 +9
Kendrick Vinar, Hillsborough, N.C. (2013) 41-38–79 +9
Taiki Yamaura, Sennan, Japan (2016) 41-41–82 +12
Connor Black, Humble, Texas (2014) 41-41–82 +12