Andover, KS: The 120th playing of the Trans-Mississippi Amateur Championship commenced today at Flint Hills National Golf Club with a field of 144 of the top amateur golfers worldwide. They are all vying to put their names alongside Colin Morikawa, Will Zalatoris, Bryson DeChambeau, and Jack Nicklaus. The TMGA Amateur is the fourth Elite Amateur Golf Series stop that will designate the top amateur competitions this summer.

The players used the perfect course conditions and fantastic weather to light up the course with birdies. First-round leader Harry Crockett, of Surrey, England, playing for the University of Nebraska, made six birdies and an eagle to post a back nine of 29 (six-under-par), his first nine, and followed up with a solid two-under-par on the back for a eight-under-par (63) total. Just a shot behind Crockett, Cameron Huss, of Kenosha, Wisconsin and playing for the University of Wisconsin, posted nine birdies and two bogeys to finish at seven-under-par 64.

Joseph Lloyd, of Scottsdale, Arizona and playing for Fresno State, took advantage of the ideal playing conditions in the morning to post the low round in the morning wave with a round of 65 (six-under-par), including eight birdies and two bogies. In the afternoon wave, Ryan Eshleman, Vestivia, Alabama playing for Auburn University, and Kristoffer Kuvaas, of Houston, Texas and playing for Pepperdine University, each posted six-under-par 65. Eshleman's card had back-to-back eagles on the fourth and fifth holes to jump-start his round, while Kuvaas's first nine four-under-par (31) got him started off quickly.

At 7220 yards, par 71, Flint Hills National Golf Club is no small test for the players. As a past host of the 2017 USGA Junior Amateur, the 2007 US Senior Amateur, the 2001 US Women’s Amateur, and the 2003, 2009, and 2015 TMGA Amateur Championship with Colin Morikawa as the champion, this course holds a rich history in the world of amateur golf. Straight driving and accurate iron play seem to be the right combination for success, and the next champion's game will have those qualities.

Play commences at Wednesday, July 10th at 8:00 am for the second round, with a 36-hole cut to the lowest 54 players and ties.