Cameron's 73 tops girls qualifiers for Westrock Coffee Junior Championship

Incoming Nevada High School freshman Emree Cameron shot a 1-over-par 73 to lead all 24 girls golfers in the qualifying round of the American Junior Golf Association's Westrock Coffee Junior Championship Thursday on the Arlington Course of the Hot Springs Country Club in Arkansas.

With birdies on the par-4 no. 3 and par-3 no. 11, and bogeys on hole nos. 7, 13, and 16 (all par-4s), Cameron shot an even-par 36 on the front nine, and a one-over 37 on the back.

The top-three finish qualified Cameron to play in the 54-hole tournament for players ages 12-19 that will take place over the weekend. Her competition there will include 21 college commits.

On the boys' side of the qualifier, where the top-five scorers advanced to tournament play, fellow area golfer Owen Swearingen — fresh off his second-place finish at the MSHSAA Class 3 state tournament as a junior at Nevada High School — tied for 14th with a round of 79 (+7).

Swearingen bogeyed or double-bogeyed six of his first 13 holes before scoring back-to-back birdies on the par-4 nos. 14 and 15 — then closed his round with an eagle on the par-5 no. 18. He shot a 5-over-par 41 on the front nine, and a 2-over-par 38 on the back.