Tyler Blonder
All summer long, Tyler Blonder seemed to be building for the Austin Junior City Championship.
After not playing in the Felix George Junior in June — the first junior tournament on the Austin golf summer schedule — Blonder debuted a week later at the Joe Balander Junior at Jimmy Clay Golf Course and appeared a little rusty, finishing with an 87. Since then, Blonder has slowly worked his way into form.
He shot a 5-over 76 earlier this month at the Roy Kizer Junior to finish first in the boys’ 16-18 flight. A week later, it was a struggle in the Ben Crenshaw Junior at Lions Municipal Golf Course — a track that will sneak up and bite you if you’re a little off. Blonder shot an 88 and finished in second. He got back on track last week at Morris Williams Golf Course, carding a 9-over 80 to finish one shot behind the winner, Jake Kittner, in the George Hannon Junior.
On Tuesday at Jimmy Clay, Blonder carried over that mojo and turned in another solid round of 6-over 78 to lead the Austin Junior City Championship by one after the first round. The two-day tournament continues Wednesday at the adjacent Roy Kizer Golf Course, a track that plays a little more wide open with less trees. Blonder, of course, saw success at Kizer just a few weeks ago when he fired a 76.
Jake Kittner
Malcolm Edwards trails Blonder by one after shooting a 79 on Tuesday, and Kittner, last week’s winner at the George Hannon Junior, sits in third after carding an 82. The boys’ 16-18 division could be in for an exciting finish come Wednesday at Kizer.
Ali Williams
Other highlights from round one of the Austin Junior City Championship on Tuesday included a pair of 76s from Ali Williams and Clayton Smith. The two are tied atop the boys’ 13-15 division and hold a three-shot lead.
In the girls’ 16-18 division, Mary Grace Davidson continued her hot play this summer and fired a 3-over 75 to grab firm control and an 11-shot lead.
Mary Grace Davidson
For the full leaderboard after round one, click here: leaderboard.htm
For Wednesday’s final round tee times at Roy Kizer Golf Course, click here: pairings.htm
