Area Golfers Compete in Western Amateur

Five area golfers from Deerfield, Winnetka, Lake Forest and Highland Park are among the 156-player international field in the 113th annual Western Amateur Golf Tournament which started Tuesday at Exmoor Country Club in Highland Park.

Blake Johnson of Winnetka fired an opening round even par 72 Tuesday to finish in a tie for 29th place to lead the North Shore contingent. Bennett Lavin of Deerfield and Andrew Price of Lake Forest were one-over par at 73 putting them in a tie for 46th.

Illinois high school champion Joe Willis of Lake Forest is tied for 127th after shooting a 78 while Kyle Kopsick of Highland Park was in a group with 79 tied for 136th.

The first-round leader is Curtis Thompson of Coral Springs, FL, who carded a five-under par 67.

After today’s second round, the top 44 players as well as anyone in a tie for that spot will move on to 36 holes of match play Thursday when the field will be pared to 16. The round of 16 and the quarterfinals will be played Friday with the semifinals and finals Saturday.

The tournament was first played in 1899. The international field includes people from as far away as Spain, Australia and Malaysia.