Arbor View’s Thomas leads LV Junior Open

Zane Thomas took advantage of his early tee time and got off the course at Anthem Country Club before the wind dominated Tuesday’s opening round of the Las Vegas Junior Open golf tournament.

Thomas, who will be a junior at Arbor View in the fall, shot a 4-under-par 68 to lead the boys division in the 54-hole event, one of the annual highlights on the American Junior Golf Association schedule.

Thomas leads Thomas Lim of Moorpark, Calif., by one shot. J.J. Holen of Castaic, Calif., is two shots back.

''I just didn’t make any mistakes,’’ said Thomas, who began his round at 7:30 a.m. on the back nine and played under calm conditions. ''I knew the last nine would be tougher. The greens were lightning fast, so I parred the back nine.’’

Thomas made the turn at 4 under after an eagle at the par-5 18th and birdies at the par-5 12th and the par-3 14th.

Four other locals are competing in the boys division. Coronado’s Tad Darland and Foothill’s Taylor Montgomery are three shots back in a seven-way tie for fourth after carding 71s. Green Valley’s Ryan Green shot 78 and Coronado’s Kenden Slattery 79. 

In the girls division, 14-year-old Shannon Aubert of Orlando, Fla., leads after a 4-under 68.

''The greens were unbelievably tough,’’ said Aubert, who leads Dana Finklestein by four shots and Green Valley's Jenny Hahn by five.

''But I hit some good iron shots in, and there were no three-putts.’’

Green Valley’s Alexandra Kaui opened with a 78.