Austin starts strong

Eighteen-year-old Nick Austin fired a 6-under 66 in grand fashion to lead the way after the first round of the 2009 Jefferson Cup tournament at Birdwood Golf Club. The field of 87 golfers teed off early Friday morning under clear skies and warm weather.

Austin cashed in nine birdies on the day and holds a three-shot advantage over Farmington’s Phil Mahone, who carded a 69 on Friday. Greene Hills’ Mikey Moyers, who trails Weston Eklund by 19 points in the Bill Battle Trophy standings coming into the weekend, shot a 2-under 70 and is tied with Nick Biesecker and Paul Kane for third place.

The University of Richmond-bound Austin wasted no time in placing some distance between himself and his competitors, rattling off five birdies over his opening six holes. The youngster, who will join Earlysville’s Daniel Walker at Richmond in the fall, reached all four of the course’s par-5 greens in two shots (birdied each one).

“[Austin is] a really good player, he played a great round today, and he’s got a lot of potential,” said Mahone, who was in the 10:10 a.m. group with the current leader. “We play two different kinds of games; he bombs the ball, and I’m more like, ‘let’s hit the fairways and greens and make some putts.’”

The elder Mahone, who won the first Jefferson Cup in 2002, hit 16 greens in regulation on Friday, and just missed a hole-in-one by a few feet on the 14th, but walked away with one of his five birdies of the round. He admits that it would be sweet to emerge as a two-time champion, and explained what it would take to do so.

“I need to keep playing the same way, and don’t worry about what the other guys are doing,” Mahone said. “If I can shoot under par [Saturday and Sunday], I think I’ll be right there.”

Eklund, who picked up wins at this year’s Old Trail Invitational and Reines Jewelers City Championship, struggled down the stretch in Friday’s opening round. He was at even par through 15 holes, but double-bogeyed both the 16th and 18th to leave him 10 shots back at 76, tied for 18th.

Moyers had it working on his front nine as he registered four birdies, but gave two strokes back at No. 12 and No. 15. He would have to win the tournament to win the Battle Trophy.

Old Trail’s Scott Garrison remains in contention despite a triple-bogey seven on the 17th, and is alone in fifth place after posting a one-under 71. Tony Good and Jeff Nemoytin are tied for sixth at even-par 72.

The Jefferson Cup’s second round gets underway this morning, with the final round concluding on Sunday afternoon. The event is the final Battle Trophy tournament of the season. The top 16 in the standings (or alternates) will compete in next weekend’s single-elimination Central Virginia Match Play Championships at Spring Creek.