Kush Arora of Pleasanton, California, started the tournament off strong with a 7-under-par 65 to lead the first round of the Boys Division. Arora fired a 5-under-par 67 round during the qualifier, in which he earned Medalist Honors earlier this week. The Class of 2023 member's round was highlighted by four consecutive birdies on hole Nos. 13-16. He also had an eagle on the par-5 No. 4.
Arora's closest competitor after day one is Kevin An of Riverside, California, who posted a round of 5-under-par 67. An birdied four of his first seven holes of the day to jump start his round. Rounding out the top five, Ryan Abuan of Temecula, California, finds himself at 3-under-par in solo third place. Calder Overfelt of Newport Beach, California, and Wheaton Ennis of Eagle, Idaho, sit in a tie for fourth following rounds of 2-under-par 70.
In the Girls Division, 17-year old Anika Varma of (India) Roseville, California, playing in just her second career AJGA event, was able to post a 3-under-par 69. Three birdies on holes Nos. 10, 12 and 13 to start her back nine allowed her to catapult to the top of the leaderboard.
Jiya Dalal of Oak Park, California, sits two off the lead following a first round of 1-under-par 71. A birdie on the par-4 No. 18 enabled her to be the only girl other than Varma to be in red figures after round one. There is a two-way tie for third between Sydney Sung of Palo Alto, California, and Madison Pineda of San Carlos, California. They fired off first round scores of even-par 72.