Argentina's Valdes leads by three on Day 1 of U.S. Junior Amateur

SHOAL CREEK, Ala. (AP) -- Jorge Fernandez Valdes, a 15-year-old golfer from Argentina, shot a 7-under-par 65 Monday to take a three-stroke lead over Seth Reeves after the first round of the U.S. Junior Amateur. Valdes made six birdies on the final nine holes of the 7,251-yard course at Shoal Creek Golf Club, to lead the 156-player field. Reeves, 17, of Duluth, Ga., opened with a 68, and defending champion Cory Whitsett, 16, of Houston, was among five players who trailed Valdes by four shots. The others were Pat Rodgers, 16, of Avon, Ind.; Cameron Peck, 17, of Olympia, Wash.; Dashiell Lindsell, 17, of Burlingame, Calif., and 17-year-old Julian Suri of St. Augustine, Fla. Whitsett is trying to become the first repeat winner since Tiger Woods won three straight U.S. Junior Amateurs from 1991-93 and is well-positioned to be among... [read full story]