UNF freshman Filippo Serra has adventuresome day to earn share of St. Augustine Amateur lead
Filippo Serra didn't have a mundane day on the golf course on Thursday in the first round of the 18th St. Augustine Amateur.
Serra kept answering his own miscues and finally straightened his game out for the closing holes of the St. Johns Golf Course to shoot 5-under 66 and tie Episcopal High School senior Camden Goldknopf for the lead.
Serra, a redshirt freshman at the University of North Florida and a native of Switzerland had a quick bogey at No. 2, then rattled off four birdies in a row.
He bogeyed No. 8, birdied No. 11, bogeyed No. 15 and then birdied the last three holes for a day with three bogeys, eight birdies and seven pars.
Goldknopf, who is coming off a top-five finish at the Florida Class 1A state high school tournament, had a less stressful day. He was 2-under through 10 holes, then birdied Nos. 11, 12 and 13 and parred out to finish bogey-free.
Close behind at 4-under 67 are BYU senior Max Brenchley, whose highlight was an eagle-two at No. 13, and high school senior Hunter Stetson of Newtown Square, Pa., who is a commit to N.C. State. Two players shot 3-under 68, College of Charleston sophomore Cameron Johnstone and Purdue junior Kent Hsiao.
Among six players tied at 2-under 69 are UNF junior and past Jacksonville Amateur champion Jason Duff -- who had four birdies and a bogey among his first seven holes, playing on his home course -- and former Flagler College player Spencer Schindler.
It was a day for low scoring, with 17 breaking 70 and 30 matching the par of 71 or better.
The 54-hole tournament will continue on Saturday and Sunday. Admission is free.
This article originally appeared on Florida Times-Union: St. Augustine Amateur yields low scores in the first round at St. Johns GC
