The Woodlands, Texas - After the first round of competition, Miles Russell of Jacksonville Beach, Florida, sits at 8-under-par 64.
With temperatures in the 70s conditions were prime for scoring during the first round as 14 players went under par and six are within four shots of the lead.
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 in his second AJGA Simplify Boys Championship at Carlton Woods, Russell's 8-under-par 64 marks the second-lowest opening round in the tournament's storied history.
"Today was definitely a great start and a good sign. I have to focus on golf and keep playing well. I didn't make too many bad swings and made a bunch of putts which was definitely a highlight."
He started his round with four birdies in-a-row and a total of six through his first nine holes. After making the turn, he put in two more birdies before losing his tee shot on No. 13 and making a double bogey. He rebounded with two more birdies on Nos. 14 and 15 before finishing with pars.
"It's such a cool event, one of the best ones. Everything about it is great: from the course to the club and the support of us."
Coming into the event at No. 2 in the Rolex AJGA Rankings, the 2027 grad is coming off a win at the Rolex Tournament of Champions in November of 2024. The 2023 Rolex Junior Player of the Year is looking to build off his T14 finish at this event in 2024.
Sitting in second place at 7-under-par 65 is William Lisle of (Hong Kong) Bradenton, Florida. Lisle had eight birdies on the day en route to holding second place. He started on ten and made the turn at 2-under-par 34 before birdieing six of his last nine holes.
The 2027 grad came into the event at No. 87 in the Rolex AJGA Rankings. He is playing in only his fourth AJGA Invitational with his best finish of T23 at the 2024 Team TaylorMade Invitational.
Rounding out the top 5 are:
3. (-5) - Michael Riebe of Encinitas, California
T4. (-4) - Benjamin Baker of Broadlands, Virginia
T4. (-4) - Luke Colton of Frisco, Texas
T4. (-4) - Ronin Banerjee of Irvine, California
Second-round tee times begin Sunday at 8:30 a.m. off Nos. 1 and 10.