Australian leads Sunnehanna Amateur in Johnstown

Paul Schofield | Wednesday, June 12, 2019 11:37 p.m.

Australian Lachlan Barker watches a shot from the 6th tee during the Sunnehanna Amateur Tournament for Champions golf event in Johnstown, Wednesday, June 12, 2019.

Australian Lachlan Barker shot a 5-under par 65 to grab the first round lead at the 66th annual Sunnehanna Amateur at Sunnehanna Country Club in Johnstown.

The Iowa State golfer, who placed third in the 2019 3rd Colleton River Collegiate event, holds a one shot lead of James Nicholas, who shot a 4-under 66. Nicholas plays college golf at Yale and was the 2019 Ivy League champion.

Three players were tied for third place at 3-under.

Franklin Regional graduate Palmer Jackson is tied for eighth at 1-under. Jackson will be attending Notre Dame.

Oakmont’s Sean Knapp shot a 5-over par 75, Peters Township’s Connor Schmidt and Greensburg’s Kevin Fajt each shot a 7-over 77.

The second round of the tournament is scheduled for Thursday and after Friday’s round the field will be reduced to the Top 50 golfers and ties. There are 101 golfers in the field.