The first round of the 52nd annual Junior America’s Cup, hosted by the Utah Junior Golf Association, is in the books with San Diego represented by Connor Herrera, Reed Arnaldo, Ty Smock and Tyler Leedom shooting 4-under-par 212 team score. San Diego has a five-stroke lead over Southern California at Soldier Hollow Golf Course in Midway, Utah.

Leading San Diego was Connor Herrera with a 3-under-par 69, as co-leader in the championship. Reed Arnaldo fired a 2-under-par 70 as he sits in third place. Rounding out Team San Diego was Ty Smock shooting 73 and Tyler Leedom with an 80.

Team Southern California sits in second place at 1-under-par for the team. Leading Team Southern California is Matthew Diehl, who fired a 3-under-par 69, tied for the overall individual lead. Nixon Lauritzen (even-par 72) and Baron Nguyen (4-over-par 76) round out the three counting scores for Southern California.

Host Team Utah is tied for seventh place as a team, at 10-over-par. Leading Team Utah is Carter Papke, who fired a 1-over-par 73. Rounding out the counting scores for Utah is Parker Bunn, who shot 4-over-par 76, and Jaxon Erickson, who shot 5-over-par 77.

This year marks the first time in event history that the Boys and Girls Junior America’s Cup are hosted at the same facility (Boys on Gold Course, Girls on Silver Course at Soldier Hollow) by the same host association, the Utah Junior Golf Association. Team Arizona is leading the Girls Junior America’s Cup after Round 1, shooting a 6-under-par score of 210. Alexis Vakasiuola fired 4-under-par 68 (second place overall), followed by Kaitlyn Helm, who shot 70 (tied for third) and Lena Durette with an even-par 70 (tied for sixth). The leading individual is Melanee Udom from Team Oregon, who shot a 5-under-par 67.

Like a collegiate event, the Junior America’s Cup features 18 teams of four boys representing their state, province, or country. The competition takes place over three days, with 18 holes played each day for a total of 54 holes played to determine the winning team. Each team counts its best three scores each round, with the low-scoring team after 54 holes being crowned the champions and presented with the champions’ medals and trophy.

The 2024 competition marks the 52nd anniversary of the Junior America’s Cup championship and the fourth time it will be held in Utah. The previous time the event was hosted in Utah was 2006 at Ogden Golf & Country Club in Ogden, Utah. The team from San Diego won the championship that year. Junior America’s Cup alumni from the 2006 championship include Tony Finau and Zach Blair.

Past Junior America’s Cup participants who have gone on to successful professional careers include Tiger Woods, Phil Mickelson, Fred Couples, Corey Pavin, Bryson DeChambeau, Patrick Cantlay, Rickie Fowler, Ryan Moore, Kyle Stanley, and Tony Finau.