Three local players competing in U.S. Junior Amateur

Three local golf stars are competing this week in the U.S. Junior Amateur, which began Monday at Saucon Valley Country Club in Bethlehem, Pa.

The first part of the tournament is a two-day, 36-hole stroke play event. The top 64 after stroke play advance to match play, which begins on Wednesday. Golfers play at Saucon’s par 70 Old Course and the par 71 Grace Course.

Eli Wessel, a Guerin Catholic graduate, finished with a five-over par 77 at Saucon’s Old Course, making one birdie.

Elijah Lemmon, an incoming senior at Mt. Vernon, played on Saucon’s Grace Course and finished at six over par, scoring 77.

Hudson Kutchma, a Westfield graduate and this year’s IHSAA individual state champion, scored seven-over 79, also on the Old Course. Kutchma made one birdie in his round.

The second round of stroke play takes place today. Wessel tees off at 7 a.m. from the Old Course, with Kutchma starting at 8:06 a.m. from the Old Course. Lemmon tees off at 12:26 p.m. from the Grace Course. The projected cut is likely to be around two-over par, based on first-round scores.