Around the Green

Devin Jackson Takes the Early Lead at North Amateur

Southlake, TX – For the second consecutive year, Devin Jackson finds himself at the top of the leaderboard after the first round of the North Amateur. Jackson leads the field in the 2017 edition of the North Amateur by one stroke after firing an opening round of six-under-par, 66.

Jackson, of Longview, opened the North Amateur with an impressive 31 on the front nine (his back nine). He started his round on hole 10 where he started off with three straight pars before tallying the first of his 5 birdies on the day. His lone bogey came on the par three seventeenth that measured 220 yards in round one. Jackson turned onto the front nine one-under-par. Paring holes one thru three (his tenth thru eleventh) brought him to the par four fourth, measuring 410 yards. His next three holes were different. Jackson  went birdie followed by  another birdie on four and five before eagling the par five sixth. His final birdie of the day came on his last hole, number nine where he drained a 15 foot putt from behind the hole.

Jackson finds himself in a familiar spot as he led the 2016 North Amateur at Hurricane Creek Country Club after the first round with a seven-under-par 65. Jackson eventually went on to tie for fourth with a total of six-under-par.

Sitting just one stroke back of Jackson is Ryan Johnson. Johnson was birdieing holes all over the course as he tallied a total of 7 birdies with a lone double bogey on the par four eleventh measuring a daunting 455 yards up a slight incline. Johnson, of Trophy Club, kept it consistent throughout his round today as he carded four birdies on the back nine (his front) and three birdies on the front nine.

Playing in his first Texas Golf Association tournament and sitting just two shots back, Max Kettler felt great about his round afterwards saying, “it was a great first round in a TGA Championship, considering I started off with back to back bogeys on holes one and two.” Kettler, of Southlake, stated, “I played a lot of tournaments with the Legends Junior Tour so I feel comfortable with the tournament atmosphere and playing with these guys.” Kettler will look to gain on the lead during his second round at 9:39am off #10 tee.

Timarron Country Club played to a total of 6,937 yards for the first round of the North Amateur. Players saw ideal conditions as the wind stayed clam throughout the morning and early parts of the afternoon as the scoring average was 76.76. In total, 16 players found themselves at even par or better and will look to make a surge during tomorrow’s “moving” day at the North Amateur. Winds are expected to make a presence during the latter parts of the morning and into the afternoon.

The second round of the North Amateur at Timarron Country Club will begin again at 8:00 am off #1 and #10 tees. Jackson will begin his round early at 8:09am while Johnson will be shortly after at 8:36am off #10 tee. Once the second round has concluded, players will be repaired based on their 36 hole total with the leaders going off last (approx. 9:57am) on Sunday morning. For complete results, click here.