TRINITY, Texas – The United States team of four national champions, including NCAA winner Austin Ernst of LSU, posted a four-player/two-team best-ball score of 11-under par 133 to stand in a tie for second one shot out of the leader after the first round Wednesday of The Spirit International Amateur golf championships at the Whispering Pines Golf Club.
Canada is the first-round leader at 12-under par 132 in the four-day, 72-hole event. The best scoring came on the men’s side as Canada and the U.S. are tied for the first round lead in that best ball competition after posting rounds of 8-under 64. The American men – amateur champion Kelly Kraft and mid-amateur champion Nathan Smith – had four birdies on each side.
In the women’s best-ball competition among the 20 countries, Ernst and Public Links champion (and Ernst’s caddy in the match play of last year’s US Women’s Amateur) Emily Tubert of Arkansas, moved it around the par 72 course to the tune of 3-under 69. The SEC pair is tied for fourth with Argentina and Denmark, just three shots out of the lead held by Italy at 6-under 66. The Italians actually had eight holes with birdies in this risk-reward scoring system, but gave two holes back with bogeys.
Ironically, Ernst and Tubert played with the Swedish pair that featured LSU freshman Madelene Sagstrom and former Tulane golfer Daniela Holmqvist. The Swedish women finished at even par 72, tied for 14th.
In the main competition that counts the best ball from both the men’s and women’s side, the Canadians and Americans are chased after one round by Italy at 10-under 134 with Denmark and Australia tied for fourth at 8-under 136.
The second round is set to begin Thursday morning with live scoring at Golfstatresults.com and live internet television coverage beginning at 10 a.m. CDT at www.thespiritgolf.com.