The Woodlands, TX — After the first round of competition, Cameron Kuchar of St. Simons Island, Georgia, leads at 6-under-par 66, setting the early pace at The Club at Carlton Woods – Fazio Championship Course.
The AJGA Simplify Boys Championship at Carlton Woods is one of the longest-running events on the AJGA schedule. First played in 1987, the tournament has been hosted at Carlton Woods since 2009, and boasts past champions including Jim Furyk, Tiger Woods, Rickie Fowler and Jordan Spieth.
Kuchar's round was characterized by consistency with six birdies throughout the round and no bogeys en-route to his first-round lead. His birdies came in bunches with four in-a-row from Nos. 6 through 9.
I'm not hitting it super great, but I am just trying to play with a bunch of margin and aim for the middle of the green and make par. I was able to hit a couple of twenty-footers and it just made it a good day out there.
In second place at 5-under-par 67 is Chase Bauer of Gotha, Florida, one back of the lead heading into Sunday. Bauer made six birdies and one lone bogey and looks to claim his first AJGA Invitational title this week.
William Lisle of Bradenton, Florida (Hong Kong) holds third at 3-under-par 69, continuing his strong play at Carlton Woods after a top‑five finish here last year.
A crowded group at 2-under-par 70 rounds out the top 5, featuring:
- Lucas Gimenez — Jacksonville, Florida
- Connor Wolfe — Blythewood, South Carolina
- Rory Asselta — Ramsey, New Jersey
- Miles Russell — Jacksonville Beach, Florida
- Dawson Lew — Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Jackson Ormond — Webster, New York
- Grayson Baucom — Hickory, North Carolina
Russell, the 2025 champion, again positioned himself near the top with a 2-under 70 as he looks to defend his title at Carlton Woods.
A deep pack at 1-under-par 71 (T11) includes Max Emberson, Cody Guetzke, Rhett Turner, Giuseppe Puebla, Ronin Banerjee, Kuan Zhou, and Luke Gossett. Another quartet sits at even-par 72 (T18), with the field tightly bunched heading into round two.
Second‑round tee times begin Sunday at 8:30 a.m. off Nos. 1 and 10.