Niklas Blalock of McGregor, Texas, sits at 2-under-par 70 after the first round in Rogers, Arkansas. The 2022 graduate holds the Boys Division lead by one stroke heading into the final day. Blalock was bogey-free, 2-under-par 34 on the front nine and made four birdies in the round.
Hunter Jowers of Jonesboro, Arkansas; Alexander Apolskis of Bentonville, Arkansas; Will Mullin of Omaha, Nebraska; Colby Sauer of Cever Coeur, Missouri; and Brayden Bare of Waco, Texas, are tied for second at 1-under-par 71.
Kasey Maralack of Snoqualmie, Washington, finished the first round 2-under-par 70. The class of 2022 graduate has a three-stroke lead thanks to four birdies, including three on the back nine.
Tied for second at 1-over-par 73 are: Mason Lewis of Granbury, Texas; Lucy Smith of Prosper, Texas; Brecklyn Flanagan of Murphy, Texas; and Lauren Milligan of Springdale, Arkansas.