On a tough day for scoring in the first round of the 2016 Saguaro Amateur at Ak-Chin Southern Dunes Golf Club, Ryan Roodzant of Bakersfield, California, bested the field by two shots, shooting 6-under 66.
The competition continues today and Wednesday, with rain expected to be a factor throughout.
Two players – Wes Artac of Kingwood, Texas, and Turner Maclean of Fort Worth, Texas – shot 4-under par 68s on Monday and headline a tightly bunched field that sit two shots behind Roodzant. Five players – Carter Thompson of Tallahassee, Florida, Jimmy Makloski of Pueblo, Colorado, Matt Lee of Cave Creek, Michael Christifulli of Paradise Valley and Connor Klein of Lone Tree, Colorado – all shot 3-under par 69s to be chasing three shots back.
Joo-Young Lee of Hilliard, Ohio, and Daniel Wetterich of Cincinnati, Ohio, are another shot back at 70. Defending champion Sean Walsh of Keller, Texas shot 73, and 2014 champion Taylor Moore of Edmond, Oklahoma is in the hunt at 71 with six other players.
Full results can be found at www.saguaroamateur.com.
TOP RESULTS
1. Ryan Roodzant , Bakersfield, Calif—66 (-6)
2. Wes Artac , Kingwood, Tex—68
Turner Maclean , Fort Worth, Tex—68
4. Jimmy Makloski , Pueblo, Colo—69
Matt Lee, Cave Creek, Ariz—69
Michael Christifulli , Paradise Valley, Ariz—69
Carter Thompson, Tallahassee, Fla—69
Connor Klein, Lone Tree, Colo—69
9. Joo-Young Lee, Hilliard, Ohio—70
Daniel Wetterich, Cincinnati, Ohio—70
11. 7 players (T. Moore, J. Pelayo, N. Heinen, A. Heinen, P. Cover, J. McCollum, D. Bayley, H. Wood)—71
Monday, the weather was a main story as temperatures didn’t get out of the 50s, and competitors battled rain and 12-15 mph wind throughout the day. Precipitation is expected throughout the rest of the week as well.
ROUND AVERAGE: Ak-Chin Southern Dunes played tougher in the first round this year, averaging 76.1 today after averaging in 74.3 in 2014 and 75.5 in 2015 in the respective first rounds.
The Saguaro Amateur is in its third year and has established itself as one of the top individual men’s amateur events in the US over the winter months. It was founded by University of Colorado Head Men’s Golf Coach Roy Edwards and University of Wyoming Head Men’s Golf Coach Joe Jensen. The host golf course is Ak-Chin Southern Dunes Golf Club, which plays to a distance of 7395 yards and par of 72. It was designed by Schmidt-Curley-Couples and has hosted numerous professional and amateur events in its short but heralded history.
