Plenty of accomplished professionals from the region are competing this weekend in the 79th Rocky Mountain Open in Grand Junction, but it’s an amateur who stole the show in Friday’s opening round.
Dillon Stewart of Fort Collins, part of the Colorado Junior America’s Cup team that recently finished fourth out of an 18-team field last month in Washington state, shot a 7-under-par 64 at Tiara Rado Golf Course to grab a one-stroke lead in the tournament.
The runner-up to Davis Bryant of Aurora in the 2017 Colorado Junior PGA Championship, Stewart (pictured) made eight birdies and one bogey in the opening round.
Former Brigham Young University golfer Justin Keiley carded the best score among the professionals on Friday, a bogey-free 65. He played his first eight holes in 6 under, then parred his final 10 holes.
Tied for third place at 66 are 2016 CGA Match Play champion Nathaniel Goddard, who finished third last year in Grand Junction; three-time RMO winner Monte Montgomery; and 2017 CGA Amateur champion Glenn Workman. Montgomery made two eagles in Friday’s round.
The tournament will continue through Sunday, with all the action at Tiara Rado for the first time this year.
For Rocky Mountain Open scores, CLICK HERE.
