Orion Yamat of Niles, Ill., Thomas Calbi of South Barrington, Ill. and Cameron Michalak of Orient, Ohio, all shot matching 4-under-par 67s Tuesday to grab a share of the lead during the first round of the AJGA Stonehenge Junior Open at Stonehenge Golf Club. Danielle Nicholson of Geneva, Ohio leads the girls division after shooting a first-round 1-under-par 70. Conducted by the American Junior Golf Association, the AJGA Stonehenge Junior Open is a 54-hole stroke play competition played on the par-71 Stonehenge Golf Club. The event features 108 boys and 36 girls, ages 12 to 18, from 18 states, Canada, China and Colombia. The boys division is playing the course at 6,799 yards while the girls division is playing the course at 5,983 yards. From Warsaw, Will Petro is tied for eighth with a two-under 69 (34-35), while Warsaw’s Jonny Hollar is 50th with a 74 (37-37), Joshua Ahlersmeyer is 78th with a 77 (37-40), Ryan Cultice and Brandon Eckert are each 92nd with 79s and Reid Cameron shot a 93, finishing 108th. Yamat made five birdies en route to 67. His front nine was a bogey-free round that included birdies on Nos. 4, 6 and 9. After making the turn at 3-under-par 33, his momentum haulted momentarily. Yamat’s momentum came right back with a birdie on No. 11. “No. 11 was the highlight for me,” said Yamet. “Coming off a bogey, I hit my 8-iron to one foot and tapped in for birdie. “Putting was also going well for me today,” said Yamat who had 29 putts on the day. “I just want to stick to my game plan and do it again tomorrow.” Calbi birdied Nos. 1 and 2 after hitting a 7-iron close on both holes. Calbi is looking for his first win in his ninth AJGA start. “Tomorrow my mindset doesn’t change, I just need to play my game, and keep it going,” said Calbi on approaching today’s action with the lead. Michalak, playing in his second AJGA tournament of 2013, had a bogey-free round that featured four birdies. Michalak birdied Nos. 1, 4, and 7 on the front nine. He posted one more on the back to finish off the 67. The second round was scheduled to run in two waves today, with the first wave teeing off from 7:30 to 9:20 a.m. and the second wave teeing from 12:30 to 2:20 p.m. The final round will be Thursday. For more information on the AJGA Stonehenge Junior Open contact tournament headquarters at (404)-431-0032.
