Lowcountry golfers tied for 2nd at Oppenheimer Junior

A bogey-free back nine propelled Austin Bonfiglio into the lead at the Judie Oppenheimer Memorial Junior, firing a 2-under-par 70 Tuesday that left him two strokes ahead of Hilton Head Island’s Brooks Dyess and two other pursuers.

Bonfiglio, of Holly Springs, N.C., had just one blemish on his card — a double bogey that was countered by four birdies. He was the only golfer in the boys’ division to break par at Oyster Reef Golf Club.

“I thought I played pretty good and hit the ball well today,” Bonfiglio told a tournament liaison. “I’m probably going to try and stay aggressive, but it’s a good feeling knowing that I have the lead.”

Dyess, who carded two birdies and two bogeys on his round, was joined at even-par 72 by Atharv Argade of Deatsville, Ala., and Raleigh’s Quinn Riley.

Jenny Bae of Lawrenceville, Ga., used an opening 71 to jump out a four-shot lead in the girls’ division. Bluffton’s Kayla Kozak was tied for second with Sophia DiGesualdo of Austin, Texas.

This story was originally published July 19, 2016 at 9:35 PM with the headline "Lowcountry golfers tied for 2nd at Oppenheimer Junior."