Siblings Davis and Emma Bryant of Aurora have made headlines for unique accomplishments on several occasions over the last year.
In 2017, it was for the two combining to capture the “Bryant Slam”, with Davis winning three Junior Golf Alliance of Colorado majors, and Emma earning the title in the one in which her brother didn’t compete.
Then last month, the two became the first siblings to sweep boys and girls Colorado state high school titles in the same season — in their case in the 5A classificiation.
And on Monday, the Bryants (left) struck again, albeit on a slightly lesser scale. With 60 boys and 30 girls competing at the Colorado Junior PGA Championship at Eisenhower Golf Club’s Blue Course at the Air Force Academy, Davis leads the boys tournament and Emma the girls after round 1 of the 54-hole event.
And to add to the storyline, Emma Bryant made her first hole-in-one during Monday’s round, holing a 9-iron from 134 yards on the third hole.
Davis Bryant, the JGAC Boys Player of the Year in 2017, took a five-shot lead on Monday in his title defense. The Colorado State University-bound golfer shot a 4-under-par 68 to open the tournament. He was 2 over par after five holes, but went 6 under for his last 13 holes and shot a 5-under 31 on his final nine (the front side on the Blue Course). Bryant finished the day with eight birdies, two bogeys and a double bogey.
Notably, Davis birdied the third hole, the one sister Emma aced.
Kailer Rundicks of Denver opened with a 73 — highlighted by an eagle at the par-5 11th hole, immediately following a double bogey — and stands in second place. Lucas Howell of Colorado Springs and Barrett Jones of Eagle share third place at 74.
Dillon Stewart of Fort Collins, who won last week’s AJGA Hale Irwin Colorado Junior in Westminster, started with a 77.
On the girls side, 15-year-old Emma Bryant (left) finished with a 1-over 73, good for a one-stroke lead. In addition to her ace, she carded two birdies and five bogeys.
Another reigning state high school champion, two-time 3A winner Hailey Schalk of Erie, is Emma Bryant’s closest pursuer, having posted a first-round 74. Schalk, the JGAC Girls Player of the Year in 2017 and the defending girls champion in this event, finished with three birdies and five bogeys in round 1. She was 1 under through 13 holes, but made four bogeys and one birdie during the stretch run.
The only other girls player who shot below 78 on Monday was Caroline Jordaan of Lakewood, who carded a 75 and holds third place. Jordaan, a Colorado Academy senior-to-be who has verbally committed to play her college golf at the University of Denver, made an eagle, a birdie, two bogeys and two double bogeys on Monday.
Both the boys and girls tournaments will continue through Wednesday.
In addition to the Colorado Junior PGA Championship titles being on the line, the top two boys finishers and the top two girls will earn spots in the national Junior PGA Championship that will be held in Kentucky. The national girls tournament is set for July 9-12 and the boys for July 31-Aug. 3.
