Korey Watts, a rising senior at James River, leads the pack after the first day of the Virginia State Golf Association Junior Stroke Play Championship.

Here’s a release from the association:

Buchanan’s Korey Watts, 17, shot an opening day 2-under-par 69 to headline a bunched leader board entering Wednesday’s second round of the 60th Virginia State Golf Association Junior Stroke Play Championship being conducted at Laurel Hill Golf Club (6,747 yards, par 36-35—71).

Watts and central Virginian Kyle Hart, 16, of Midlothian, who returned 1-under 70, were the only two players to post red numbers at the layout, which features menacing areas through the green and demands precision, particularly off the tee. Ryan Mondy, 18, of Blacksburg, had even-par 71.

Altogether, 18 players are within four shots of the lead entering day two, including Adam Ball, 18, of Richmond, this spring’s VSGA Junior Match Play champion.

Starting his round on No. 10, Watts played a mid-round stretch in three under par. At the par-4 17th, his eighth hole of the day, Watts’ 6-iron approach hit the flagstick and came to rest 12 feet from the hole location before he drained the ensuing birdie putt.

The southwest Virginian then birdied the first two holes of his second nine, dropping in a 10-footer at the par-4 first before stuffing his pitching wedge approach at the par-4 second to 18 inches.

In leading the way, Watts, a rising senior at James River High School in Buchanan, Va., characteristically kept it in play for much of the day, crucial on a track that places a premium on accuracy and penalizes errant shots.

“I think it played tough because you couldn’t really bomb it,” Watts said. “You had to keep it down the middle. It’s about keeping it out of the high grass. Whoever doesn’t hit it in the high grass is going to be the one who is going to do the best this week.

“I didn’t try to hit anything hard. I was just focused on hitting it straight and keeping it between the trees. If you’re hitting in the high stuff, you’re going to make bogey or worse – it’s a guarantee.”

Hart made his first start at the VSGA Junior Stroke Play a memorable one, equaling a day one best with five birdies on his scorecard. The rising senior at Midlothian High School shot two under on his outward nine (Nos. 10-18) and played the layout’s four par 5s in two under. He can attest to the importance of playing position golf.

“It was a good first day. I hit a lot of fairways,” said Hart, who earned an exemption into the championship by qualifying for the VSGA Amateur Championship and the SunTrust State Open of Virginia. “If you put it in play off the tee, you definitely have a much better chance than if you don’t.

“The golf course sets up for me. I’m pretty confident off the tee, so if I keep it in play, I’m golden.”

Mondy is hoping to keep the VSGA Junior Stroke Play title in the family. His older brother Jake took home back-to-back titles in the event in 2010 and won in his last appearance at the Junior in 2011 before triumphing at this summer’s VSGA Amateur Championship.

The only brother-brother combination to win the VSGA Junior Stroke Play is Eric Smith and Stephen Smith of Martinsville, who took home the titles in 1973 and 1974, respectively.

“It would be really cool to follow up Jake. He’s done it the past two years. To get my name on there beside his would be really awesome,” said Ryan, a rising senior at Blacksburg High School.

Ball is trying to take home an unprecedented fourth title in a junior event conducted by the VSGA. In addition to claiming back-to-back VSGA Junior Match Play titles in 2011 and 2012, he captured the Junior Stroke Play in 2009.

Following Wednesday’s second round, the field will be reduced to the low 45 competitors and ties for the final round, set for Thursday, Aug. 2.

LORTON –– Results from the first round of the 60th Virginia State Golf Association Junior Stroke Play Championship at Laurel Hill Golf Club (6,747 yards, par 36-35—71) on Tuesday, July 31.
Korey Watts (Buchanan), 34-35—69
Kyle Hart (Midlothian), 37-33—70
Ryan Mondy (Blacksburg), 38-33—71
Adam Ball (Richmond), 36-36—72
Casey Bannon (Alexandria), 37-35—72
Tyler Satorius (Annandale), 34-38—72
Kevin Archer (Keswick), 38-34—72
Mark Lawrence Jr. (Richmond), 35-38—73
Alex Lloyd (Virginia Beach), 36-37—73
Nick Vazzana (Ashburn), 36-37—73
Joey Lane (Great Falls), 37-36—73
Tyler Bennett (Richmond), 35-38—73
Nick Lotuaco IV (Virginia Beach), 39-34—73
Nick Brediger (Roanoke), 37-36—73
Alex O’Dell (Crozet), 35-38—73
Yoojin Kim (Centreville), 36-37—73
Alston Newsom (Chesapeake), 37-36—73
Zach Weaver (Williamsburg), 37-36—73
Mason Stutler (Fredericksburg), 37-36—73
Griffin Clark (South Chesterfield), 39-35—74
Matthew Ashley (Lansdowne), 38-36—74
Kyle Templeton (Harrisonburg), 37-37—74
Adam Szwed (Woodbridge), 37-37—74
Connor Messick (Oak Hill), 37-37—74
KeonHo Song (Centreville), 37-37—74
Christopher Kapsak (Richmond), 37-38—75
Matthew Brittain (Abingdon), 37-38—75
Wesley Smith (Martinsville), 36-39—75
Yoseph Dance (Richmond), 37-38—75
Kent Miller (Charlottesville), 37-39—76
Ashton Newsom (Chesapeake), 35-41—76
Ryan Douglass (Leesburg), 37-39—76
Tony Liu (Charlottesville), 37-39—76
Jason Park (Midlothian), 38-38—76
Wade Hayes (Richmond), 40-36—76
Fitz Woodrow IV (Charlottesville), 38-38—76
Young Suh (Virginia Beach), 38-38—76
Bryan Carter (Yorktown), 41-35—76
Clayton Forren (Rustburg), 34-42—76
Chas Bassing (Great Falls), 42-35—77
John Bryant (Galax), 37-40—77
David Rabil (Fairfax Station), 41-36—77
Thomas Fricke (Haymarket), 37-40—77
Daniel Wine (Penn Laird), 37-40—77
Edric Wung (Mclean), 40-37—77
Erik Dulik (Great Falls), 40-38—78
Chris Brugge (Vienna), 40-38—78
Ryan O’Sullivan (Leesburg), 38-40—78
Adam Peebles (Suffolk), 41-37—78
Weston Ringer (Chesapeake), 40-38—78
Garrett Sweeney (Salem), 41-38—79
Addison Coll (Arlington), 41-38—79
Peter Gasperini (South Boston), 42-37—79
Brian Hill (Richmond), 39-40—79
Dawson Hobbs (Midlothian), 43-36—79
Joe Monk (Williamsburg), 40-39—79
Christian Rivera (Norfolk), 39-40—79
Ian Hildebrand (Purcellville), 41-39—80
Justin Nichols (Roanoke), 40-40—80
Austin Smith (Salem), 41-39—80
Charlie Musto (Sterling), 41-39—80
Hunter Weis (Charlottesville), 42-38—80
Bobby Monk (Williamsburg), 43-37—80
Logan Yates (Ruckersville), 41-40—81
Connor Rinoski (Yorktown), 41-40—81
Christopher Angelelli (Suffolk), 43-38—81
Bryan Kopsick (Glen Allen), 43-39—82
Zack Luttrell (Pounding Mill), 41-41—82
Elijah Tackett (Roanoke), 37-45—82
Zac Mullins (Wise), 42-40—82
Brett Engle (Charlottesville), 40-42—82
Connor Walters (Salem), 41-42—83
Joel Choi (Vienna), 41-42—83
Nate Greenwood (Arlington), 42-41—83
Trey Wren (Suffolk), 43-40—83
Derek Budd (Virginia Beach), 44-39—83
Tyler Spears (Springfield), 45-39—84
Jack Peden (Vienna), 40-44—84
Andrew Butts (Salem), 42-42—84
Josiah Singleton (Brookneal), 44-41—85
Kyle Landis (Charlottesville), 44-41—85
T.J. Osborne (Virginia Beach), 45-40—85
Michael Sanders (Mclean), 45-41—86
Steven Decker (Chesapeake), 43-46—89
Nicklaus Norris (Free Union), 49-42—91
Brian Jones (Richmond), 42-51—93
Parker See (Verona), 51-43—94
Gunar Frazier (Pearisburg), 51-43—94
Cullen Bruce (Chesapeake), 50-44—94
Ryan Hatcher (Chesapeake), DNS

LORTON –– Groupings and starting times for the second round of the 60th Virginia State Golf Association Junior Stroke Play Championship at Laurel Hill Golf Club (6,747 yards, par 36-35—71) on Wednesday, Aug. 1.

Wednesday (Aug. 1), Hole No. 1

7:30 a.m. – Adam Szwed (Woodbridge); John Bryant (Galax); Justin Nichols (Roanoke)
7:39 a.m. – Thomas Fricke (Haymarket); Zach Weaver (Williamsburg); Erik Dulik (Great Falls)
7:48 a.m. – Peter Gasperini (South Boston); Joel Choi (Vienna); Connor Messick (Oak Hill)
7:57 a.m. – Matthew Ashley (Lansdowne); Connor Rinoski (Yorktown); David Rabil (Fairfax Station)
8:06 a.m. – Edric Wung (Mclean); Weston Ringer (Chesapeake); Austin Smith (Salem)
8:15 a.m. – Nate Greenwood (Arlington); Derek Budd (Virginia Beach); Kyle Landis (Charlottesville)
8:24 a.m. – Cullen Bruce (Chesapeake); Kyle Templeton (Harrisonburg); Jack Peden (Vienna)
8:33 a.m. – Bobby Monk (Williamsburg); Garrett Sweeney (Salem); Joey Lane (Great Falls)
8:42 a.m. – Zack Luttrell (Pounding Mill); Matthew Brittain (Abingdon); Connor Walters (Salem)
8:51 a.m. – Yoojin Kim (Centreville); Joe Monk (Williamsburg); Christian Rivera (Norfolk)
9 a.m. – Nick Brediger (Roanoke); Clayton Forren (Rustburg); Wade Hayes (Richmond)
9:09 a.m. – Dawson Hobbs (Midlothian); Kyle Hart (Midlothian); Mason Stutler (Fredericksburg)
9:18 a.m. – Brett Engle (Charlottesville); Bryan Kopsick (Glen Allen); Logan Yates (Ruckersville)
9:27 a.m. – Addison Coll (Arlington); Ryan Mondy (Blacksburg); Mark Lawrence Jr. (Richmond)
9:36 a.m. – Ian Hildebrand (Purcellville); Ashton Newsom (Chesapeake); Korey Watts (Buchanan)

Wednesday (Aug. 1), Hole No. 10

7:30 a.m. – Tyler Bennett (Richmond); Nick Vazzana (Ashburn); Tyler Satorius (Annandale)
7:39 a.m. – Chris Brugge (Vienna); Wesley Smith (Martinsville); Steven Decker (Chesapeake)
7:48 a.m. – Fitz Woodrow IV (Charlottesville); Brian Hill (Richmond); Alston Newsom (Chesapeake)
7:57 a.m. – Trey Wren (Suffolk); Young Suh (Virginia Beach); Brian Jones (Richmond)
8:06 a.m. – Christopher Angelelli (Suffolk); T.J. Osborne (Virginia Beach); Michael Sanders (Mclean)
8:15 a.m. – Gunar Frazier (Pearisburg); Josiah Singleton (Brookneal); Tyler Spears (Springfield)
8:24 a.m. – Daniel Wine (Penn Laird); Nicklaus Norris (Free Union); Zac Mullins (Wise)
8:33 a.m. – Hunter Weis (Charlottesville); Charlie Musto (Sterling); Bryan Carter (Yorktown)
8:42 a.m. – Yoseph Dance (Richmond); Elijah Tackett (Roanoke); Tony Liu (Charlottesville)
8:51 a.m. – Ryan Hatcher (Chesapeake); Alex O’Dell (Crozet); Kevin Archer (Keswick)
9 a.m. – Jason Park (Midlothian); Casey Bannon (Alexandria); Nick Lotuaco IV (Virginia Beach)
9:09 a.m. – Griffin Clark (South Chesterfield); Andrew Butts (Salem); Ryan O’Sullivan (Leesburg)
9:18 a.m. – Chas Bassing (Great Falls); Alex Lloyd (Virginia Beach); Parker See (Verona)
9:27 a.m. – Adam Peebles (Suffolk); Kent Miller (Charlottesville); KeonHo Song (Centreville)
9:36 a.m. – Adam Ball (Richmond); Christopher Kapsak (Richmond); Ryan Douglass (Leesburg)