SIMPSONVILLE, Ky. — The Clark's Pump-N-Shop 112th Kentucky Amateur is underway at the University of Louisville Golf Club in Simpsonville, and after a full day of competition, Clay Pendergrass has set the pace in stunning fashion, carding a 6-under-par 66 to take the outright lead after Round 1. Josh Rhodes, Christopher Harpum, Chad Howard, and Rylan Wotherspoon sit three shots back in a four-way tie for second at 3-under-par 69.

Setting the Pace

Pendergrass, who spent three years playing collegiate golf at the University of Louisville, looked right at home on a course he knows as well as anyone in the field. The familiarity showed from the start, as he navigated a firm, fast layout with patience and precision to post the low round of the day.

"Just really patient today," Pendergrass said. "Got off to a pretty good start, bogey-eagle or something, and then just kind of cruised from there. Just kept the golf course in front of me, kept the ball in play, made a couple of putts, and just birdie stacked. Feels good."

His game plan centered on course management, particularly on a day when the greens were running firm and fast.

"Just really looking at pins," he said. "Greens are really firm and fast out here right now. Just gotta be smart on where you leave it in the fairway. Don't have short wedges to front pins, just hit the fat of the greens and make putts. I felt like if I could do that, I'd play well, and the game plan worked."

The familiarity of the course proved to be a significant advantage, and Pendergrass was candid about how much that meant heading into the week.

"It's just so big to be comfortable on tees," he said. "I've hit these tee shots thousands of times. I know how the greens break. I know where to miss it on sides of holes that other people might not know. That's definitely a huge advantage and something I'm really happy with this week."

For Pendergrass, the stakes of the week go beyond just a trophy.

"It's something you dream of," he said. "Obviously, growing up in Kentucky, spent three years here at the University of Louisville, so it would be a big one for me. Just a dream come true. But I've got two more days, trying to keep it all in front of me."

In the Hunt

Josh Rhodes, the 2024 KGA Player of the Year, navigated a rollercoaster round to grab a share of second at 3-under. The day was far from clean, but Rhodes showed his resolve throughout, leaning on a big-picture mentality to stay in contention. Some of the course's most demanding holes made their presence felt on Tuesday, and Rhodes' round was no exception. The par-3 third yielded a birdie, who drained a 20-footer to get his round going. He then took advantage of the risk-reward par-5 13th with another birdie. But the par-4 14th, a hole that tests even the best players in the field, had its say, as Rhodes made double. He responded with birdies on 17 and 18 to close strong.

"It's 54 holes," Rhodes said. "It's just a bump in the road. I try not to make doubles, but sometimes this place is one swing away from a double on every tee shot."

Also in contention, Allen Hamilton is five shots off the pace at 1-under after a composed opening round built on what he called "boring golf." His strategy centered on aggressive swings at conservative targets, with an emphasis on taking advantage of the par 5s and short par 4s while avoiding unnecessary risk elsewhere.

"I'm not firing at pins, but I'm still committed to a certain spot on the green," he said. "Take care of the par 5’s and the short par 4’s, and just make sure you have a good look. That's all you can do."

Two past champions are also lurking five shots off the pace. 2008 champion Tyler Sharpe and 2023 champion Justin Tereshko are both at 1-under, keeping the door open for a former title holder to make a run over the final two rounds.

A Round to Note

Golf has a funny way of showing up differently every day, and on Tuesday, Mark Knecht's game showed up right on time. The oldest player in the field at 63, Knecht carded an even-par 72 and was candid about his expectations after a shaky practice round.

"I'm as surprised as you are," he said. "If you'd seen my practice round yesterday, you'd think okay, you didn't finish the round today."

Knecht made just two bogeys and offset them with a pair of birdies, leaning on a simple game plan of hitting fairways and greens. A pivotal moment came on the par-4 15th, where he pulled a tee shot into the hazard but salvaged a bogey.

"When it can get away from you in a hurry, that was honestly a bit of a confidence builder," he said. "Just hang in there, plot along, and it turned out pretty good."

Round 2 Ahead

Round 2 of the Clark's Pump-N-Shop 112th Kentucky Amateur gets underway tomorrow at the University of Louisville Golf Club. Follow along with live updates on the KGA's social media channels and visit kygolf.org for full results and tee times.

About the Kentucky Golf Association

The Kentucky Golf Association is recognized by the USGA as the governing body for amateur golf in the Commonwealth. Founded in 1911, the KGA is a full-service golf association of over 120 member golf courses. The KGA is governed by a volunteer Board of Directors made up of representatives from courses across Kentucky. The KGA serves and fulfills many roles for golf in Kentucky. The KGA is a founding member of Golf House Kentucky, the umbrella organization that manages Kentucky's Family of Golf Organizations.