Tuesday’s first day of golf at the 83rd Northern Kentucky Amateur Championships at Triple Crown Country Club in Union produced two ties atop the leaderboards and one contest that threatens to be a runaway if players hold form during stroke play in Wednesday’s second round.
Yadhu Urs, 19 of Hickory Hills Golf Club, and Adam Horn, 18, from City of Mason Golf Center, are tied with leading scores of 2-under-par 70 in the championship division at the par-72 course.
Urs, a college golfer at Ohio Dominican, carded four birdies while overcoming a tough start as he failed to make par the first two holes. He shot 34 on the back nine. Horn, who plays at Wright State University, carded three birdies and also shot 34 on the back nine.
There is a three-way tie for third among McKean Collins, CM Mixon and Jackson Finney who shot matching scores of 1-over-par 73.
In the senior division, Ed Steiber from Miami View Golf Club and Rick Harmon from Friendly Meadows Golf and Country Club are tied for first with scores of 2-over 74.
Steiber, 64, had two birdies while shooting 37 on both the front and back nines. A five-time Greater Cincinnati Golf Association senior player of the year, Steiber has won four Senior Metropolitan crowns and one Met Mid-Amateur title.
Harmon, 65, also carded a pair of birdies. He fared better on the front half while shooting 36. He scored 38 on the back.
James Sweeney from Traditions Golf Club and Tim Sorrows from Hamilton Elks Golf Club are tied for third at 76 in the senior division.
In the women’s competition, Megan Yoder from Fort Wayne Country Club leads second-place Riley Johnson of TPC Rivers Bend by four shots. Yoder, who plays at the University of Dayton, carded 5-over-par 77. Johnson finished the opening round at 9-over 81.
Cathleen Wong from Campbell e-Club and last year’s women’s runner-up Ali Green from Four Bridges Country Club are tied for third at 12-over 84.
Stroke play resumes Wednesday with second-round action. It’s the final round for seniors, who will crown a champion. The championship and women’s divisions play 54 holes over three days, with a 36-hole cut after Wednesday’s second round followed by final-round action Thursday.