Royal Palm's Giuseppe Puebla surges at Junior Players Championship

Royal Palm Beach's Giuseppe Puebla is helping set the pace at the Junior Players Championship in Ponte Vedra Beach.

Puebla, a University of Florida commit in the Class of 2027, shot 68 (4-under) and tied for second place after the first round of the Junior Players at TPC Sawgrass.

He is one shot back of fellow Floridian Chase Bauer, who leads at 5-under.

Puebla carded five birdies and a lone bogey while navigating one of professional golf's most esteemed venues. He will tee off in the second round at 8:30 a.m. on hole No. 10 in a group with Sohan Patel and Dawson Lew on Saturday.

The rising junior golf talent is looking to add to an already fruitful 2026 campaign.

Earlier this year, Puebla qualified for the U.S. Open on "Golf's Longest Day" with

a strong performance at BallenIsles Country Club in Palm Beach Gardens. He went on to shoot 7-over and miss the cut at the legendary Shinnecock Hills Golf Course in his major debut.

The Junior Players leaderboard is chock full of Palm Beach County talent.

Palm Beach Gardens' Charlie Woods, son of 15-time major champion Tiger Woods, and Matthew Marigliano are tied for ninth at 1-under after the first day. Gardens' Ryan Nana Tanke is tied for 53rd at 5-over.

More junior golf: Giuseppe Puebla impresses at U.S. Open

Eric J. Wallace is deputy sports editor for The Palm Beach Post. He can be reached at [e-mail].

This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Royal Palm's Giuseppe Puebla surges at Junior Players Championship