The Woodlands, Texas - After the second round of competition, Bowen Ballis of The Woodlands, Texas, sits at 7-under-par 137 following the second round.
Conditions for the second round improved greatly over the first round and allowed players to shoot lower scores. During the first round, nine players shot under par, compared to 24 in the second round.
The AJGA Simplify Boys Championship at Carlton Woods is one of the longest-running events on the AJGA schedule. Originally played in 1987, the tournament settled at The Club at Carlton Woods in 2009. The event has a storied past with champions such as Jim Furyk, Rickie Fowler and Jordan Spieth.
Playing on his home course, Ballis' second-round 6-under-par 66 marks the best round of the tournament so far and gives him a four-shot lead heading to the final round.
"This is my home course so I have all of my friends out here watching. I think there will definitely be some nerves given it's the final round but to have all my friends out here supporting me, it means the world knowing that they have my back."
He started his second round with a bogey on the first hole before carding four birdies to close out the front nine. After making the turn, he finished his round with four more birdies and another bogey for a tournament-best 6-under-par 66.
"I felt like I have hit the ball really well both days. Yesterday was a battle given the wind, but I had a few more putts drop today. I think both rounds were really solid though and the ball was going where I wanted it to."
Coming into the event at No. 74 in the Rolex AJGA Rankings, the high school senior has signed a National Letter of Intent with Vanderbilt University. He is playing in his second AJGA Simplify Boys Championship at Carlton Woods.
Sitting tied for second place at 3-under-par 141 are:
- Ethan Lien of Cupertino, California
- Jackson Herrington of Dickson, Tennessee
- Logan Reilly of Lovettsville, Tennessee
In fifth place is:
- Smith Summerlin of Raleigh, North Carolina
Tied for sixth are:
- Joshua Kim of Danville, California
- Eric Yun of Menlo Park, California
- Billy Davis of Spring Valley, California
- Jay Leng Jr of San Diego, California
- Luke Colton of Frisco, Texas
- Boston Bracken of Saint George, Utah
- Matthew Diehl of Redlands, California
Final-round tee times begin Monday at 8:30 a.m. off Nos. 1 and 10.