LJCDS Grad Finishes First Round of US Open Strong

Editor's Note: La Jolla Country Day School released the following announcement at 9:30 p.m., June 14, 2012.

Recent grad Alberto Sanchez played a fantastic round of golf in the first round of the U.S. Open.

Sanchez played brialliantly on the tough front nine, managing to make just two bogies in the first six holes that bedeviled some of the game's greatest talents.

Sanchez hung tough, entering the final five holes at four over par and managed two birdies to finish with a two over par 72. He is tied for 23rd place, but just three shots behind Tiger Woods, who is in second place at 1 under.

On this day Sanchez playing as an amature, beat the world's number one golfer – Luke Donald – by seven shots on a course that is being described by the experts as a severe test of golf.

In Friday's second round, Sanchez, who is being followed on the course by Torrey Coach Bill Cahoone and Upper School Director Rod Jemison, will play early, teeing off just before 7:30 a.m.

Sanchez shocked the golf world when he pursued his life-long ambition to play in a U.S. Open and managed to qualify in a competition that included many professional golfers. Sanchez graduated from high school June 1 and is headed to college at Arizona State.

He played his practice round with San Diego golf legend Phil Mickelson and then went out and beat Mickelson's first round 76 by four strokes.

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