WATKINSVILLE — Spencer Ralston, playing in his first-ever Forme Tour event as a professional, fired a 4-under par 68 on Wednesday in the opening round of the L&J Championship at Jennings Mill Country Club.
Travis Trace and Morgan DeNeen both shot 7-under 65s to grab the lead after the first round.
It was the first official round for Ralston, a former Gainesville High standout, since declaring he was turning pro this week.
"It didn't feel any different," he said. "I'm in a place I'm comfortable, playing at a course I know particularly well, playing against a lot of guys I grew up playing against, so I felt very relaxed."
Starting on No. 10, Ralston was among the early leaders after chipping in on the Par 5 11th and draining a birdie putt on the Par 4 13th to move to 3-under. After five consecutive pars, he birdied No. 1 -- his 10th hole -- to get to 4-under.
However, it was a roller coaster over the final six holes. Ralston bogeyed No. 4, birdied No. 5, and then bogeyed No. 6 to drop back to 3-under. But back-to-back birdies on Nos. 7 and 8 pushed him to 5-under. He bogeyed the Par 5 No. 9, his final hole, to finish the day at 68.
"Overall, today was very steady. I got out to a hot start with an eagle and a birdie on my first 4 holes and then just hit a lot of good shots and had some solid looks all good," Ralston said. "But I made a few too many bogeys on my back nine than I wanted but all in all a solid day.
Ralston will tee-off at 8:25 a.m. on Thursday in the second round.
