Stone and Wu Shine in Texas Heat with Opening 66s at U.S. Junior Amateur
Young stars stay cool in testing conditions to set pace at Trinity Forest
Las Vegas - Kailer Stone and Qiyou Wu posted matching 5-under-par 66s on a scorching opening day of the 77th U.S. Junior Amateur Championship at Trinity Forest Golf Club, Dallas, Texas.
The pair proved unflappable under pressure and in punishing heat. Stone, 17, from California, produced a bogey-free round with five birdies, striking 16 of 18 greens on the Bill Coore and Ben Crenshaw-designed layout. “It was nice,” he said. “Just kind of playing it fairway, middle of green. This is a tough course — if you miss the green in the wrong spot, you pretty much can't get up and down.”
Wu, 16, from China, birdied five holes and eagled the par-5 16th, holing a 45-foot putt after reaching the green from 220 yards. “It’s challenging,” Wu said of the links-style test in gusting wind and temperatures climbing into the 90s. “Yesterday, I was practising missing on the right side of the greens. Sometimes that is just a bogey or worse. If you miss on the [proper] side, you can get up and down.”
Six players sit one stroke behind at 4 under, including Stuart Boulware of Kansas, Adam Villanueva of Texas, England’s Ben Bolton, Georgians Trace Carter and Mason Howell, and 2023 AJGA Player of the Year Miles Russell. Defending champion Trevor Gutschewski carded 68 to lie two back.
Brook Hollow, the co-host venue, played tougher on day one, averaging over six strokes above par, while Trinity Forest yielded more red numbers. But Stone and Wu’s precision and composure earned them the early edge. With match play spots on the line, they know the test has only just begun.