Joshua Sedeno (University of Alabama photo)
SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. –
Joshua Sedeno of Roseville, Calif., shot a six-under-par 64 Wednesday to lead the first-round of the 104th Annual Southwestern Amateur Golf Tournament being played on the Cochise course at the Desert Mountain Club in North Scottsdale.
Sedeno, a senior at University of Alabama majoring in Consumer Science Communication,holds the lead over Christian Banke, a junior at San Diego State University from Danville; Davis Bryant, a sophomore at Colorado State University from Aurora; Ryggs Johnston from Libby Mont.,who heads to Arizona State University in the fall; Notre Dame senior Hunter Ostrom from Boise, Idaho; A.J. Ott, a senior at Colorado State from Fort Collins; and Evan Peterson, a senior at St.Mary’s (CA) from Clovis, Calif. all of whom shot four-under-par 66.
Playing under partly cloudy skies and warm temperatures, Sedeno played the #15 (par 5)and #7 (par 3) island greens in five shots in his 32-31 round. “I put the ball in good spots off the tees and I didn’t put myself in a position to make a lot of bogies. I hit down the middle of the green,”he said, adding, “I practiced to get ready and the hard work paid off.” Sedeno last played the course during a past Southwestern Amateur when he was 17.
Bryant said he didn’t get into much trouble but his short game bailed him out a few times, hitting 12 greens and making 27 putts. Johnston, who was a competitor in last year’s tournament but withdrew due to an injury, rebounded well after a rough start making some longer putts.
Ostrom, a three-time competitor in the tournament, shot even on the second nine but was strong in his short game taking advantage of the par 3s. After a rough start, Ott had a nice eagle on#8 and played solid coming in with birdies on #15 and #18. Peterson gave himself good looks at making a putt for birdie. His only bogie was a 3 putt.
The tournament continues tomorrow morning with tee times beginning at 7:30 a.m. through 9:40 a.m.
Now in its 104th year, the Southwestern Amateur has been played at a variety of sites throughout Arizona, California, Texas, Nevada and New Mexico.
Since its founding in 1915 as a regional match play invitational tournament for private golf course members to compete against the nation’s best amateur players, the Southwestern Amateur has developed a stellar reputation as a high-quality competition for the nation’s top players.
The tournament was changed to a stroke play event in 1966 to meet the growing demands of the tournament and the increased popularity of the game created during the Palmer-Nicklaus era. For the past six years, the Southwestern Amateur has been played at the Desert Mountain Club in Scottsdale on one of Desert Mountain’s six Jack Nicklaus-designed signature golf courses.
ABOUT THE
Southwestern Amateur
72-hole stroke play championship for national-level
amateurs with a handicap index of
1.4 or better. After 36 holes, the field will be
cut to the low 36 and ties. The
SWGA Selection Committee will select players
to
compete based upon
exemptions, playing resume and rankings.
The SWGA reserves the right to invite
amateurs of national and international
reputation, as well as other amateurs "of
note", to enter into the tournament.
Applicants are urged to submit their entries
with golf resumes of accomplishment in
major tournaments and other competitive
record
information.
View Complete Tournament Information