JOHNSON — Patrick Rodgers legally becomes a man today.
He hopes to play like one the rest of the week.
Rodgers, who turns 18 today, shot a 1-under-par 71 Tuesday in the opening round of the American Junior Golf Association Rolex Tournament of Champions at Blessings Golf Club.
That left Rodgers, of Avon, Ind., tied for fifth heading into today’s second round, two strokes behind leader Sam Straka of Valdosta, Ga.
Rodgers, who orally committed to Stanford about six weeks ago, has played the best golf of his life this summer. He won the 36-hole Indiana state high school championship June 16 after finishing second last year, and just last week he won the Western Junior Championship in Milwaukee.
“The biggest win of my career was last week,” Rodgers said. “I knew it was only a matter of time before Ibroke through, and last week was when it all kind of came together.”
Rodgers added to that momentum Tuesday at Blessings, posting three birdies and two bogeys during a steady morning round in fair weather conditions.
“With this tournament being four rounds, you’ve got to be patient,” Rodgers said. “A lot of pars will get it done. I got off to a good start, but it’s a long tournament.”
Starting on No. 1, Rodgers birdied Nos. 5, 9 and 13 to get to 3 under. Although he bogeyed two of his last three holes, Rodgers was par or better on each of his first 15.
Shane Lebow of Santa Barbara, Calif., another future Stanford golfer, shot a 2-under 70 and is in a three-way tie for second with Shun Yat Hak of Lake Mary, Fla., and Drew Czuchry of Auburn, Ga.
Lebow, who will begin his career at Stanford this fall, started on No. 10 and had a par save on No. 16 before he birdied four of his next five holes.
“It was a downhill par 5, and I pulled my drive into the trap about 200 yards from the green,” Lebow said of No. 16. “I probably should’ve laid up, but I went for it and hit it right next to the green, which was the turning point for my round.”
Straka, 17, missed Monday’s practice round, but he was well-prepared for the first round after winning a U.S. junior qualifier Monday in Atlanta. Eagles on Nos. 16 and 9, both par 5s, propelled Straka into the lead.
“On 16, I hit a 5-iron to 10 feet and made the putt,” said Straka, who is orally committed to Georgia. “On my last hole, I hit my driver to about 220 yards, hit a perfect 4-iron to 2 feet and tapped in for eagle.
“I’m just playing well in the moment and hitting the balls where I want to.”
Zachary Coates of Springdale and Arkansas commitment Kolton Crawford of Mansfield, Texas, both shot 80, and Sean Romero of Texarkana fired an 83. Little Rock’s Matthew Mabrey and Arkansas signee Will Pearson of Memphis finished at 88.
The girls field is led by Samantha Wagner of Clermont, Fla., who shot an even-par 72.
Wagner birdied two holes, Nos. 2 and 10, to take the lead on a day when no other girl shot under par. Just 13, Wagner is the youngest player in the girls field.
“It’s a little weird being the youngest, but I’m used to playing with older people,” Wagner said. “I was really just trying to keep patient and let the birdies come.”
Arkansas signee Emily Tubert shot a 2-over 74 and is tied for sixth.
“I’d like to have shot a little better, but I’m not going to complain about my round,” said Tubert, who won the Women’s Public Links championship Saturday. “This course is eating people up. You’ve got fairway and you’ve got rough. Then after that, you’ve got jungle.
“If you hit a poor shot, it’s not a hazard, it’s a lost ball.”
Hally Leadbetter of Bradenton, Fla., who is orally committed to Arkansas, shot an 84, and Olivia Lavy of Faytteville had a 105.
Sports, Pages 19 on 06/30/2010