Charlie Woods opened the US Junior Amateur with a five-over 76 in the first round at Saucon Valley's Old Course in Pennsylvania, leaving the 17-year-old tied for 121st and with work to do on Tuesday.
The tournament gives players a path to match play only if they finish stroke play among the top 64, so Woods will need a much better second round at Saucon Valley's Grace Course to keep his week going.
Early trouble left him in catch-up mode
Woods, the son of Tiger Woods, is trying to advance at the US Junior Amateur for the third straight time after missing the cut in his previous two appearances. His opening round this week was not the start he needed, especially after a poor beginning put him behind early.
That made the five-over 76 even more costly, because the margin for error in this event is small. Players must get through stroke play inside the top 64 to move on to match play, and Woods is currently well outside that line.
Second round now becomes decisive
Woods did show he can respond in this tournament. Last year at Trinity Forest, he shot an 81 in the opening round and followed with a 74 the next day. That kind of improvement will be the goal again on Tuesday, when he tees off needing to climb quickly.
His trip to the US Junior Amateur also followed a tense qualifier in June, when he came through a 2-for-1 playoff at Heathrow Country Club in Florida to earn his spot. Now the challenge is different: he has already survived the qualifying stage, but he will need a strong finish at Saucon Valley to stay alive in the championship.
With stroke play nearing its end, Woods is effectively in a must-move-up spot. The top 64 is the target, and Tuesday's round will decide whether he gets into match play or heads home after two rounds.
