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Campbell, Nguyen/Vivier Lead Texas Junior Amateur

KINGWOOD — Stephen Campbell Jr. of Richmond leads the Boys Division of the Texas Junior Amateur at 5-under par 67. Lauren Nguyen of Katy and Nicole Vivier of Austin sit atop a crowded leaderboard after opening rounds of 1-over par 73.
 
Lewisville’s Nathan Bardwell is leading the Boys 14 & Under Division by two strokes at 3-under. Rylie Cerny of Kingwood is leading the Girls 14 & Under Division by one stroke at 5-over par.
 
A calm mind and a light putter grip pressure is what Stephen Campbell Jr. of Richmond accredits his bogey-free, 5-under opening round to. He said he never got too high or too low, which led him to the top of the leaderboard after round one of the Texas Junior Amateur.
 
“One thing I think I did really well today was I kept the ball in play and played smart, which is important out here,” said Campbell. “I felt really good on the greens, and I think that led to my good round.”
 
Campbell’s 5-under 67 put him one shot ahead of Zach Heffernan of Fair Oaks Ranch who also had a bogey-free opening round. He played consistently with two birdies on both his front and back nines.
 
Frisco’s Henry Frizzell had four birdies and an eagle which placed him in third, only two strokes back of the leader at 3-under.
 
There are eight players tied for fourth at 1-under par.
 
In the Girls Division, Nguyen started out hot with a birdie on her first hole and played steady to finish at 1-over. Vivier had three bogeys on her opening nine, but finished strong by shooting 2-under on her finishing nine.
 
Houston’s Christine Wang and Plano’s Olivia Mitchell are only one shot back of the leaders at 2-over. Kendall Jackson of Pearland is in fifth place after a 3-over opening round.
 
Four players are tied for sixth place at 4-over, only three shots back of the leaders.
 
For the Boys and the Girls Divisions, the Texas Junior Amateur consists of 54-holes including a cut after 36 holes.
 
In the Boys 14 & Under Division, Bardwell started out 1-over on his opening nine, but finished strong with four birdies on his back nine to lead the division. Daniel Zou of The Woodlands is two shots back of Bardwell at 1-under. Six players are tied for third at 2-over par.
 
In the Girls 14 & Under Division, Cerny started out with a birdie on the first hole, but closed with a double-bogey on the Island Course’s signature hole, the difficult par-5 18th. Katy’s Maye Huang and Austin’s Sydney Givens are both one stroke back of Cerny at 6-over par.
 
The Texas Junior Amateur for the Boys and Girls 14 & Under Divisions consists of 36-holes. A champion will be awarded after Tuesday’s rounds.
 
This is the first year Kingwood Country Club has hosted the Texas Junior Amateur. The Boys Division is playing the Forrest Course, while the rest of the divisions are playing the Island Course.
 
The second round of the Texas Junior Amateur begins Tuesday at 7:30 a.m. For more information, click here.