Big Ten champ among quartet leading 1st day of Women’s Eastern Amateur

August Kim, the reigning Big Ten champion, was among four players to post a 4-under-par 68 Tuesday for a share of the lead after the opening round of the Women’s Eastern Amateur Championship at Bluffton’s Pinecrest Golf Club.

Kim, a Florida native who just wrapped up her junior year at Purdue, was joined by fellow collegians Sarah Bae (N.C. State), Kaeli Jones (South Alabama) and Brenda Gonzalez (Central Arkansas) as the younger generation ruled the first day.

Maria Torres of Florida lurked one shot behind the leaders after a 69. Lauren Stephenson — who transferred from Clemson to Alabama last week — and Wake Forest’s Sierra Sims were another stroke back.

The Women’s Eastern Amateur is one of the nation’s oldest women’s tournaments, going back 110 years. Its list of champions includes Hall of Famers Glenna Collett Vare, for whom the LPGA’s Vare Trophy is named, along with onetime U.S. Women’s Open champions Joanne Carner and Kathy Baker.

This story was originally published June 14, 2016 at 9:57 PM with the headline "Big Ten champ among quartet leading 1st day of Women’s Eastern Amateur."