BEAUFORT, S.C. – Using six birdies on the day, Anderson University rising senior Hunter Parks paced five Trojans and is tied for 48th place following opening-round action, Thursday at the 87th South Carolina Golf Association (SCGA) Amateur Championship.
The four-day, 72-hole event, which is being hosted at the Dataw Island Club's Cotton Dike Course, includes the top golfers in the Palmetto State on the par-71, 6,692 yard layout.
Aiken native Jake Carter blistered the course with eight birdies and an eagle en route to a 7-under-par 64 and leads the title chase by two shots over William Harwood (Columbia) and Ben Karns from Johns Island. An additional five golfers are within four strokes of Carter heading into Friday's second round. Reigning champion, Gregg Jones of Columbia is tied for 48th following a 3-over-par 74.
Parks, a native of Union, carded six birdies of his own, including a two on the par-3 13th hole and fired a first-round 74, while Trojan teammate and rising junior Jake Miller notched a pair of birdies and sits in a 13-way tie for 73rd after posting a 5-over-par-76. Rising sophomore Cal Brock fired a 7-over-par 78 and shares 97th place, alongside rising junior Brady Cox, who also notched a 78 while carding an eagle on the par-5 seventh hole. Rising sophomore Colt Martin posted an 84 and is tied for 132nd place.
The second round is slated to get underway, Friday at 7:30 a.m.