National golfer William Knibb and national junior player Rocco Lopez and Sebert Walker Jr are all tied for the early lead after day one action of the three-day National Amateur Golf Championship at the Half Moon Golf Course in Montego Bay, St James on Friday.

The trio shot a one-over-par 73 in trying conditions which varied from hot and humid on the front nine to breezy and rainy on the back nine. Knibbs, who was pipped to the title in a play-off last year, had three birdies and four bogeys. Lopez had an eagle and three birdies to go along with his six bogeys while Walker had two birdies and three bogeys in his round.

Knibbs was happy with his score while looking forward to the second round.

“Today, my score was not bad, but I did not hit the drive ball as well as I wanted to or as well as I have been in the past,” he said. “But I was able to keep grinding and made a nice putt on the last hole to finish one over, so we’ll see what happens moving forward.”

Defending champion Justin Burrowes was one stroke back on 74. He shot one over on the front nine and one over on the back nine for a two-over-par score on the first day.

Former National golf champion Sean Morris, who is playing with an injured finger, battled for an even-par front nine before losing two shots on the back nine to end the day on two over par 74.

The other golfer to play in the 0-6 handicap, Mark Newnham had a rough day to close on 10 over par 82 after dropping five shots on the front and back nine.

Seven other golfers played in the Men & Men’s Senior 7-12 handicap, with the top three being Shamar Wilson (77), Kemar Brown (81), and Tommy Lee (83).

Competition continues on Saturday for the second and penultimate day of the championship, when the golfers tee off at 9 a.m.

The two-day section of the championship will get under way with a total field of approximately 60 golfers.