Two collegiate golfers, BYU’s Angus Klintworth and Weber State’s Jesus Castaneda, set the pace in Monday’s opening round of the Utah State Men’s Amateur, as both fired 6-under-par 66s at Soldier Hollow Golf Course in Midway.
Klintworth, a senior-to-be who hails from South Africa, had two eagles on the Silver Course to go with four birdies and two bogeys.
Castaneda, who took up golf after playing baseball at Northridge High, also had an eagle and added five birdies and a bogey, also on the Silver Course.
Five golfers, including University of Utah golfer Brandon Robison, shot 67. Others at 5-under were Madden Barnes, Ammon Allred, Ty Brady and Ben Wilson.
Only Wilson, who has signed to play for the University of Utah after playing at Corner Canyon High, played on the tougher Gold Course among the top seven.
Golfers will switch courses for Tuesday’s second round of medal play.
In all, 51 players in the 288-golfer field shot under par, while another 18 golfers shot even par, meaning the 36-hole cut to 64 players is likely to be around even par.
If a playoff is necessary to determine the 64 for match play, it will be held Wednesday morning before matches begin.
Defending champion Bowen Mauss shot a 71 Monday, while former champion Dan Horner, who won at Soldier Hollow in 2008, shot a 69.
Among other former champions in the field, Cole Ogden shot 72, Jordan Rodgers 73, Darrin Overson 75 and Brad Sutterfield 78.
Jack Summerhays, the son of two-time champion Daniel Summerhays, shot an opening-round 75, while Jraice Finau, 14-year-old son of PGA Tour regular Tony Finau shot 80.
Tony defeated Daniel in the finals of the 2006 State Am at Soldier Hollow.
The only female in the field, BYU golfer Whitney Banz, came in with an 80.
After Wednesday’s matches, the field will be cut to 32 and two rounds will be played on Thursday and Friday until two golfers are left for a 36-hole final to be played Saturday.