Seventeen-year-old Ethan Eppinette is hoping he's adding icing to the cake.
Eppinette describes his junior golf season at Arkansas High as being well played, which included the medalist title in the Razorback Invitational. He posted an even par 72 over the 6,900 yard layout Thursday at Texarkana Country Club to capture a one-shot lead in the 2017 Arkansas State Golf Association's Junior State Amateur.
Jonesboro's Noah Minton is second, with Ben Sherman of Jonesboro, Jackson Marseilles of Harrison, Fletcher McSpadden of Fayetteville and Logan Greer of Harrison tied for third at 74. Five more golfers share seventh place at 75, with Texarkana's 14-year-old Carter Maneth the only golfer at 76.
"I made way too many birdies to finish at even par," said Eppinette, who has committed to play college golf at Abilene Christian University. "Overall, I had a good high school season, and I had a lot of confidence coming out here. I had a good practice session on Wednesday."
Eppinette's hard work paid off early in Thursday's round. He birdied the first two holes, adding another at the par-4 fifth. He did have two bogeys in between, finishing the front nine at 1-under.
Two more birdies on the back nine had Eppinette at 2-under going to the final hole. A poor tee shot got him into immediate trouble.
"I tried to cut the corner too much and ended up in the woods," Eppinette said. "One bad shot resulted in a score that should have never happened I'll probably change my strategy a little tomorrow and not cut the corner so much.
"That's not the way you want to finish a good round. When you're leading a tournament there's going to be a little bit more pressure. A champion can control his nerves and what he does out here on the course. I'm going out with the mindset I had today that everybody is level with me and if I can beat everyone I'll win."
Eppinette had three par saves that kept his round going until the final hole. He converted a 15-foot putt at the par-3 sixth; made a long par putt at 14; and got up and down from a plugged bunker shot on 16.
There also a tight race in the girls' division where 16-year-old Casey Ott of Conway leads by one after shooting 74. North Little Rock's 13-year-old Mackenzie Lee posted 75, while Maumelle's Josie Roberson and Allie Weiner shot 77. Four others are tied at 78.
"I played well today with no double bogeys," Ott said. "I had three birdies that kind of kept me going. There were a few shots I wish I had back.
"The course played (6,000 yards) pretty long for a girls' ASGA event. I feel like I'm a longer hitter so it wasn't bad for me. My driver came in handy on the par-fives."
Starting her round on No. 10, Ott birdied her first hole, with another at 13. She shot even par on the back nine, and 38 on the front with a birdie at the par-5 second hole.
Little Rock's Nash Johnson and Andrew Payne are leading the boys 12-13 age division with 9-over-par 81s. Texarkana's Thomas Curry is third at 86, with Cooper Gordon of Hot Springs fourth with an 89.
The tournament concludes today. See tee times inside today's section.