In his fourth year at the Starburst Junior Golf Classic, Cody Bishop knows the kind of mental aerobics the nerve-jangling event requires.

Even as a 16-year-old in the event’s loftiest division, he’s already putting those hard-won lessons to good use.

Beau Bartlett of Gatesville puts on the 18th green at Twin Rivers Golf Course.
Duane A. Laverty / Waco Tribune-Herald

Unabashed by the imposing shadow cast by one the largest junior golf tournaments anywhere, Bishop fired a 1-under 69 on Monday at Ridgewood Country Club to lead the boys’ Championship flight by a stroke after the first day.

As a sophomore at Magnolia West, Bishop led a golf team loaded with underclassmen at the district tournament this year by balancing a sluggish opening day with a final-day 68 to win the individual district title by a stroke.

Bishop was tied for seventh in the Starburst after the first day of competition last year, but he wobbled down the stretch and finished 21st in the 15-year-old division.

This year, with a district title in his pocket and three years at the Starburst behind him, Bishop felt like he knew the ropes.

“It’s a big tournament,” Bishop said. “This is my fourth year to play in it, and I’ve learned to not get that excited just because of the size of the tournament. You go into it playing it as if it’s just another round of golf.”

Bishop sprinkled in a few birdies midway through his round, his score bottoming out at 4-under at one point. A somewhat slow finish brought him back to a 1-under for the day, but such was his morning that he still kept the lead. He never marked down a hole worse than a bogey.

“I’ve put a lot of hard work into my game,” Bishop said. “It’s not surprising I shot what I shot, but at the same time it is kind of surprising to lead after the first day.”

Bishop kept a determined field off his tail by a slim margin. San Antonio Reagan’s Tyler Bumpass shot an even-par 70 for sole possession of second place, Corpus Christi Incarnate Word’s Kevin Smith fired a 71 for third and Matthew Dunn of Cypress Creek shot a 72 to round out today’s top pairing.

Local leaders

Locally, China Spring’s Bruce Popp, 16, is tied for 10th in the boys’ Championship division after shooting a 4-over 74. Gatesville’s Jake Truss is tied for 33rd at 8-over and Crawford’s Jake Blenden is tied for 65th after carding an 83.

After dealing with opening day nerves without a hiccup, Bishop will have to hold them off for a full two days to capture his first Starburst crown.

“I acknowledge it, but at the same time I look at it like it’s any other tournament,” Bishop said. “Just go in there and try to stay confident and in a good mood.”

Elsewhere, Woodway native Mark Chavez is tied for 12th in the 16-year-old flight at 6-over.

Results from the girls’ 17-year-old and Championship flights weren’t available as of press deadline.

Action continues today across the event’s eight courses and finishes up with final rounds Wednesday. Both Championship flights conclude with rounds at Cottonwood.