Golfweek

Curtis Thompson got off to a solid start in defense of his Junior Heritage title, then saw his round fall apart on one hole. His younger sister Alexis, Golfweek’s top-ranked junior and defending girls champion, got off to a rough start, but managed to recover. Despite both of their struggles, each remain in contention to join the exclusive list of two-time winners at the Junior Heritage.

Curtis shot a 1-under 35 on his front nine to claim the midway lead before making triple bogey on the par-4 10th and coming home in 40 at Sea Pines Resort’s Ocean Course in Hilton Head Island, S.C. Curtis’ 3-over 75 left him three shots behind leader Cody Proveaux and in a tie for eighth.

Alexis, meanwhile, struggled out of the gates, double bogeying the par-4 second hole and making the turn at 3 over. But the 14-year-old from Coral Springs, Fla., turned things around over her final nine, making three birdies for a final score of 1-over 73. That left her in a tie for first with Laetitia Beck, the No. 8-ranked player in the Golfweek Junior Rankings, and one shot ahead of Sierra Sims and No. 7-ranked Stephanie Meadow.

Sims, of Austin, Texas, made a hole-in-one on the 132-yard 11th hole, and would have held the outright lead if not for a bogey and double bogey on her last two holes.

Jim Liu, No. 10 in Golfweek’s Junior Rankings, is one shot behind Proveaux after firing a 73. He’s tied for second with UNC Greensboro commit Andrew Knox. Four players are one shot behind them and four more, including Curtis Thompson, are within three of Proveaux, who made birdie on the par-5 18th for an even-par round and the outright lead.

Only three players have ever claimed multiple Junior Heritage titles in the tournament's 21-year history – Charles Howell III (’94,’95), Paula Creamer (’01,’03) and Spencer Cole (’06,’07) – and both Thompson siblings have a shot at joining them Sunday.