Texans Lead at Taconic

WILLIAMSTOWN, Mass. -- Austin, Texas, high school sophomore Daniel Martinez carded a 2-under round of 69 on Tuesday to take the lead at the PGA Junior series event at Taconic Golf Club.

 

Martinez recorded five birdies -- on the par-5 first and 10th holes and on the par-4 second, 13th and 15th -- on his way to a five-stroke lead after the first day of the three-day event.

 

The winner of the 15-18 age group this week will earn an exemption to the Junior PGA Championship.

 

Christopher Gay of Bronxville, N.Y., is second going into Wednesday's action at 3-over.

 

In third is rising senior Christopher Thompson of Saratoga Springs, N.Y., who is tied with Illinois' Samuel Reategui at 4-over.

 

The top Bay State competitor going into the second round is Belmont's Michael Pergamo, who is tied for fifth at 5-over, seven strokes behind Martinez.

 

A pair of Williamstown residents in the field, Matthew Wiseman and Kyle Alvarez, are 46th and 51st, respectively.

 

In the girls competition, another Austin, Texas, resident, Maya Walton, leads the way at 2-over 73. Virginia's Alex Wright is second at 5-over.

 

Two girls from New York's Capital District are fourth and sixth: Loudonville's Jenny Buchanan at 9-over and Madison Braman at 12-over.

 

The top girl this week at Taconic also will earn a berth in the national tournament.

 

No Austin residents in the boys 12-14 division, but a New Yorker named Austin Fox leads after the first round with a 4-over 75. The Delmar resident is being chased by a pair of golfers tied at 10-over: Binghamton, N.Y.'s, Thomas Davis and Manlius, N.Y.'s, Kyle Gilroy.