DAYTON, Ohio – Reigning National Player of the Year Jackson Koivun and Golfweek All-American Jackson Van Paris posted 6-under par 65s at Moraine Country Club on Tuesday to take the first-round lead at the 122nd Western Amateur.
The collegiate standouts share the top spot on the leaderboard with California freshman Ziqin Zhou, of China, following the opening 18 holes at the world's third-oldest amateur championship.
Koivun – who became the first player to sweep the Haskins, Hogan, Nicklaus and Mickelson national awards in his freshman year at Auburn – carded seven birdies on the 7,306-yard, par-71 layout, including four in a row on Nos. 4-7.
"It's the longest tournament we play, so it's important to manage your mentals, but you have to be happy coming out of the gates hot," said Koivun, a Chapel Hill, North Carolina, native. "I know my game is in a good spot, so just keeping my head in it is the key."
The No. 3 player in the World Amateur Golf Ranking has plenty of experience atop leaderboards to draw upon. The 19-year-old finished in the top six in 13 of 14 collegiate events this season and won the 2024 SEC Championship.
"My play the last few months definitely gives me some confidence and it helps that this course is a piece of art," Koivun said. "I'm really excited to hopefully play a few more rounds here this week."
If Van Paris' trip around the front nine of Moraine on Tuesday offers any indication of what this week may bring, the Western Amateur veteran has a chance to make a deep run in his sixth appearance.
Beginning his round on No. 10, the Pinehurst, North Carolina, native posted an even-par 35 on the back nine and needed just 30 strokes to complete the front for a 65. To erase three bogeys, Van Paris carded seven birdies on the round alongside an eagle on the 539-yard, par-5 fourth.
"I ended up hitting driver on top of the hill on No. 4, which actually wasn't the gameplan," Van Paris said. "But I hit 7-wood to about eight feet and made the eagle putt, and that's when I had the idea that it was going to be a really cool nine."
Zhou's 65 in his Western Amateur debut included eight birdies and two bogeys. The 18-year-old made birdies on Nos. 15-17 to join the first-place tie ahead of Wednesday's 36-hole cut.
Fifty players broke par in the opening round on Alex "Nipper" Campbell's masterpiece in the Miami Valley. After the second round, the field will be narrowed to the low 44 and ties.
Six players sit in a tie for fourth at 5-under, including 2023 U.S. Walker Cup participant and Golfweek All-American Ben James, of Milford, Connecticut. The Virginia junior posted a bogey-free 66 playing alongside Koivun.
"We're both ball strikers and hit a lot of wedges close today, so it was cool to battle and root for each other with great camaraderie out there," James said.
Joining James in a tie for fourth is Zachery Pollo (Arizona), Ben Warian (Minnesota), Tyson Shelley (BYU), Evan Woosley-Reed (Tennessee) and Jack Turner (Florida).
Phichaksn Maichon (Texas A&M), Justin Hastings (San Diego State) and Jonathan Griz (Alabama) are tied for 10th at 4-under.
For the full leaderboard, click here.
First played at Glen View Club in 1899, the Western Amateur is the world’s third-oldest amateur championship, behind only the British Amateur (1885) and the U.S. Amateur (1895). It regularly attracts the top players from across the country and around the world, with past champions like Jack Nicklaus, Phil Mickelson and Tiger Woods.
A grueling combination of stroke play and match play makes the Western Amateur one of the most demanding events in golf. The field of 156 players will compete in 72 holes of stroke play over three days to determine the Sweet 16 for match play.
Live, exclusive coverage of match play will stream on ESPN+, with more than 12 hours of coverage over Friday, Aug. 2, and Saturday, Aug. 3. ESPN+ subscribers in the United States, Canada (TSN+), the Caribbean and Latin America (on Disney+) can tune in on the ESPN App, ESPN.com and connected TV devices.
Attendance and parking at the Western Amateur are free.