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Jacobe and Curiel Take Early Lead at South Amateur presented by Impact Precision Golf

HORSESHOE BAY – Andrew Jacobe and Arnoldo Curiel each shot rounds of 5-under-par 67 on Friday to take the early lead in the South Amateur presented by Impact Precision Golf. This year’s championship is being contested on the Slick Rock Course at Horseshoe Bay Resort, in Horseshoe Bay, TX.

Jacobe, of Houston, was never in much trouble during the first round. His 67 was bogey-free as he poured in five birdies on the day.

“I thought it was good. I was just pretty solid all around,” said Jacobe, a rising-junior at Vanderbilt University. “I just kind of made some putts. I didn’t really do anything great… Hit a lot of greens and made a few birdies.”

A couple of “key par saves” early in his round kept Jacobe’s momentum going after his fast start that included birdies on his first two holes.

“It was all just pretty steady throughout the whole round” Jacobe said.

Course knowledge had little to do with Jacobe’s success during round one. He has not played the course since a tournament five years ago, although he also produced a 67 during that round.

Curiel’s round was not blemish-free like his fellow co-leader, but the final result was all the same. Curiel, of Mission, bogeyed his first hole of the day, but he made six birdies over his final 17 holes to post at 5-under.

A cohort of players sit just one shot back. Brady Price, Tyler Uhlig, Robert Quinilty and 2013 South Amateur champion Tony Soerries each posted 4-under 68s for their opening 18. Price was the 36-hole leader of last year’s event at Wolfdancer Golf Club. He eventually finished in a three-way tie for third place as Danny Simmerman took the crown. Fourteen other players sit within four shots of the lead.

Heavy rain throughout the week softened the Slick Rock Course, and players certainly took advantage as 20 players broke par.
 
“The greens were pretty soft,” Jacobe said. “If you’re hitting good shots, you can get pretty close to the hole. It gives you some good scoring opportunities, you’ve just got to convert on them.”

The second round of the South Amateur begins at 8:00 a.m. on Saturday. Click here for tee times, scoring and additional information.