Jarred Jeter watches a shot on Friday
(Texas Golf Association Photo)

The 2016 West Texas Amateur is being held at The Rawls Course which is also home to the Texas Tech golf team. The course is known for its prevailing winds that make each shot a different adventure. This made Jeter’s score of 10-under that much more impressive. Not only was it the lowest score of the day but it also tied the record for the lowest score ever shot on The Rawls Course at Texas Tech.

He shares this record with Steve Long, a former Texas Tech player from the 70s. Long scored his 62 from the red tees which made the course about 100 yards shorter for him. Jeter was teeing farther back from the black tees making his 62 the best score ever shot from that length on The Rawls Course.

He credits this low score to understanding the golf course from having played it before.

“I played at a Division II school here over at Lubbock Christian so yeah I know this golf course really well and I knew that a 62 was out here,” Jeter said. “If you hit good putts and you hit solid shots, it’s out here.” Now a junior at Sam Houston State, Jeter claimed that his putter was the best club in his bag. Which was proven when he teed off on hole 10, his first hole of the day, and birdied it.

“The birdie on 10, the first hole of the day was significant because I really didn’t hit that great of a shot, Jeter said. “In the middle of the green, I had a 30- footer and swung right down the hill and just hit the perfect speed and ended up hitting the center of the cup and then they just kept going in and going in.” Ten was playing as the hardest hole of the day and although it was not easy for Jeter, his birdie there set the tone for the rest of his record-tying round. He ended up shooting a pair of 31’s on the front and back nines with 10 birdies and no bogeys. His plan for tomorrow, is to not change his plan at all.

“I am not going to put myself in a place where I could make a big number,” Jeter said. “Sixty-two just happened and if it happens tomorrow great but I am just going to keep the same game plan and see what happens.”

Behind him is George Gardner of Southlake and Andrew Wyatt of Midland who are tied at second after both shooting 6-under 66’s. Wyatt had no bogeys for his round while Gardner only had one.

After his round, Wyatt explained his game plan for today and his game plan going forth through the tournament. “Hit it and go find it,” Wyatt eloquently said.

In the senior division, there is a three-way tie atop the leaderboard. Marshall Morgan of Odessa, Lee Sandlin of Dallas and Lewis Stephenson of Mansfield shot 3-under 69’s in their first rounds. Behind them is Mike Peck from Irving who shot a 1-under 71 and is the only other person in the Senior division who remained under par for the day.

Patrick Pritchett, a local player from Lubbock, leads the Super Senior division by one stroke after shooting a 1-over 73 in his first round. Chasing him is Ernie Armstrong from nearby Sydner who shot a 2-over 74. Michael Hastings of Waxahachie, Craig Urban of Abilene and Don Grider of Georgetown all shot 4-over 76’s for a three-way tie at third.

Round two of the 2016 West Texas Amateur begins at 7:30 a.m. Saturday. Seniors, Super Seniors and a few of the Open players will tee off in the morning wave followed by the rest of the Open division in the afternoon wave.