Big Names Including Charlie Woods, Kai Trump And Asterisk Talley Struggle In Sage Valley Junior Invitational Opening Round

Tiger Woods' son sits 32nd in the 36-player boys field after round one, while defending champion Asterisk Talley has work to do

Charlie Woods wearing a white cap and navy sweater
(Image credit: Getty Images)

Charlie Woods made a slow start to his Sage Valley Junior Invitational debut, with Tiger Woods' son carding a six-over-par 78.

The 16-year-old, famous for his five PNC Championship appearances with his father, was one-under-par after six holes but made five bogeys and a double in his last 11 holes to trail the lead by 11 strokes.

The 72-hole tournament is regarded as one of the most prestigious in junior golf and dates back to 2011.

The event features a 36-player boys field and 24-player girls field, with both competitions held at the stunning, and exclusive, Sage Valley Golf Club - which is just 15 miles north-east of Augusta National across the South Carolina border. It opened in 2001 and was designed by the renowned Tom Fazio.

World No.1 junior Miles Russell, who made the cut on the Korn Ferry Tour last year at the age of 15, is two back of Joshua Bai's lead through 18 holes after carding a three-under 69.

Miles Russell takes a shot at the US Amateur

AJGA no.1 Miles Russell is off to a strong start

(Image credit: Getty Images)

New Zealand's Bai was runner-up at the US Junior Amateur in 2023 and has verbally committed to the University of Florida.

Logan Reilly, the no.2 in the AJGA boys rankings, is level par while no.3 Luke Colton is tied with Russell at three-under.

Highly rated British amateur Kris Kim, who made the cut at the CJ Cup Byron Nelson on the PGA Tour last year at the age of 16, is another notable to have struggled in round one after carding a five-over-par 77.

Defending boys champion Giovanni Binaghi is one-over after 18 holes.

Asterisk Talley hits driver during the final round of the 2024 Augusta National Women's Amateur

Defending girls champion Asterisk Talley shot a 77 to trail the lead by seven after 18 holes

(Image credit: Getty Images)

In the girls division, defending champion and AJGA no.1 Asterisk Talley, who made the cut at the US Women's Open last year at the age of 15, struggled to a five-over 77 to sit seven back of the lead held by Pimpisa Rubrong and Aphrodite Deng.

No.2 Gianna Clemente shot a 76, as did no.3 Avery McCrery.

Soomin Oh, the Korean ranked 8th in the World Amateur Golf Ranking, is one back of the lead after a solid 71 that included two birdies and one dropped shot.

President Trump's granddaughter Kai, who has made a verbal commitment to play collegiate golf at the University of Miami, is bottom of the leaderboard following round one after a 17-over-par round of 89.

View all Sage Valley Junior Invitational scores.

Elliott Heath
News Editor

Elliott Heath is our News Editor and has been with Golf Monthly since early 2016 after graduating with a degree in Sports Journalism. He manages the Golf Monthly news team as well as our large Facebook, Twitter and Instagram pages. He covered the 2022 Masters from Augusta National as well as five Open Championships on-site including the 150th at St Andrews. His first Open was in 2017 at Royal Birkdale, when he walked inside the ropes with Jordan Spieth during the Texan's memorable Claret Jug triumph. He has played 35 of our Top 100 golf courses, with his favourites being both Sunningdales, Woodhall Spa, Western Gailes, Old Head and Turnberry. He has been obsessed with the sport since the age of 8 and currently plays off of a six handicap. His golfing highlights are making albatross on the 9th hole on the Hotchkin Course at Woodhall Spa, shooting an under-par round, playing in the Aramco Team Series on the Ladies European Tour and making his one and only hole-in-one at the age of 15 - a long time ago now!

Elliott is currently playing:

Driver: Titleist TSR4

3 wood: Titleist TSi2

Hybrids: Titleist 816 H1

Irons: Mizuno MP5 5-PW

Wedges: Cleveland RTX ZipCore 50, 54, 58

Putter: Odyssey White Hot OG #5

Ball: Srixon Z Star XV

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