Carter Jenkins

Familiar names are at the top of the leaderboard. Two-time defending champion Carter Jenkins of Raleigh, N.C., reigning Carolinas Mid-Amateur champion Sherrill Britt of West End, N.C., and 2013 Carolinas Junior Boys' champion Doc Redman of Raleigh, N.C. lead at six-under-par 66.

Jenkins, who won the North Carolina Amateur three weeks ago, made eight birdies and two bogeys in his opening round. He left a couple of shots on the course with pars on two par-5s.

With a victory at this year's championship Jenkins would join F.M. Laxton (1921-'23) of Charlotte, N.C. as the only golfers to win the Carolinas Amateur title three consecutive years. About going for his third consecutive Carolinas Amateur title, "It's more handling expectations for myself," said Jenkins. "I mean, obviously it would be very cool to win. But I just want to take each day as it comes, each shot as it comes, and do my best."

Britt, a 49-year-old custom home builder, played a bogey-free round. Paired with Jenkins, Britt was impressed with the two-time defending champs play. "I might have hung with him today," quipped Britt. "But four days hanging with him {shaking head}? I will just play the best I can." He made three birdies on each nine to post six-under. In May, Britt partnered with Greg Earnhardt of Greensboro, N.C. for runner-up honors at the inaugural U.S. Four-Ball Championship.

Redman, a 17-year-old rising high school senior who has committed to play golf at Clemson University, began his round by hitting a hybrid to two feet on the par-5 2nd hole for eagle. Five birdies and a bogey contributed to his six-under performance.

The first group off hole 10 this morning played The Farm Course a combined 14-under-par. University of Louisville rising junior JD Lehman of Okatie, S.C. shot 68, while N.C. State freshman Stephen Franken of Raleigh, N.C. and University of Richmond rising senior David Germann of Clayton, N.C. both posted five-under 67. "We kind of fed off each other's good play," said Germann, who had a bogey-free round.

Gary Pugh of Asheboro, N.C. and Kevin O'Connell of Raleigh, N.C. are tied with Franken and Germann for fourth at five-under.

11 players are tied with Lehman at four-under-par including two-time Carolinas Amateur champion Paul Simson of Raleigh, N.C. and 2012 champion Carson Young of Pendleton, S.C., who recently qualified for the U.S. Amateur.

The #1 ranked amateur in the Carolinas, 2011 Carolinas Amateur champion Scott Harvey of Greensboro, N.C., is not in this year's field as he is representing the United States in the Japan Amateur Golf Championship.

The championship is conducted at 72 holes of stroke play. After 36 holes, there will be a cut to the low 60 scores and ties.

Entry is open to any male amateur golfer who has reached his 13th birthday by July 9, 2015, is a legal resident of North Carolina or South Carolina, is a member in good standing of a club which is a member of the Carolinas Golf Association (CGA) and has an active GHIN USGA Handicap Index at a CGA member club that does not exceed 5.4.