Wyatt quiets field with 66...
Seven birdies lift Alabama native to three-shot lead

Bobby Wyatt

TPC Sawgrass has been treating the juniors like pros all week, and today the juniors started treating TPC Sawgrass like pros. Bobby Wyatt of Mobile, Ala., set the pace Friday with an opening-round 66, which is only one shot off Ben Crane's first-round 65, which led after day one at this year's PLAYERS Championship. Wyatt's 6-under-par performance included seven birdies and earned him a three-shot lead over 14-year-old Jim Liu of Smithtown, N.Y., who carded a 3-under-par 69.

Blake Biddle of St. Charles, Ill., and Anton Arboleda of La Canada, Calif., carded rounds of 2-under-par 70 and are tied for third. Lucas Bjerregaard of Frederikshavn, Denmark, posted a 1-under-par 71 and is one of seven players who sit five shots back entering Saturday's second round.

Two juniors in the field have made national news in the past month, and both remain within shouting distance of the lead. Justin Thomas made the cut at the TOUR's Wyndham Championship two weeks ago and shot an opening-round 72, while Byeong-hun An won the 109th U.S. Amateur last week at Southern Hills Country Club and opened with a 75.

For complete tournament results and the latest news from The Junior PLAYERS Championship, visit FootJoy Live Scoring.

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A week in the PLAYERS shoes...
Professional experience a top priority at The Junior PLAYERS Championship

Top left - Bobby Wyatt talks strategy with his professional caddie on the famed 17th hole. Top right - Each of the 78 players shares a locker used by the pros during the 2009 PLAYERS Championship. Bottom - As a memento, every player will receive a photo of themselves playing the 17th hole.

The first round of The Junior PLAYERS Championship began this morning, but the TOUR experience started long before the first tee shot was struck. The players are being treated to the complete professional experience at TPC Sawgrass, including caddies, full access to the locker rooms and all amenities the multi-million dollar clubhouse has to offer.

Of course, the professional experience is punctuated by the golf course itself. The 7,215-yard layout and hole locations are identical to what the pros saw during the 2009 PLAYERS Championship, which provides a true measuring stick for the world's best junior golfers.

With volunteers on every hole, FootJoy Live Scoring will provide up-to-the-minute coverage from TPC Sawgrass during the first round of The Junior PLAYERS Championship.

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