LAKE FOREST, Ill. — With wind gusts exceeding 30 mph and scoring at a premium, Cole Pregler separated himself from the field Tuesday at the 108th Western Junior Championship.

The 18-year-old from Fulshear, Texas, carded a 3-under-par 68 at Knollwood Club to take a two-shot lead after the opening round. Pregler was one of just two players in the 156-player field to finish under par.

Ranked No. 80 in the AJGA rankings, Pregler entered the week with momentum after qualifying for the 78th U.S. Junior Amateur by shooting 7-under-par 65 in a recent qualifier. That confidence proved valuable as players battled difficult conditions throughout the day.

“The conditions were really tough today,” Pregler said. “The wind was up and the pins were tucked as well. I really just tried to stay disciplined, stick to the middle of the greens and not put myself in any positions that were too difficult. I kept things on the easier side today.”

Playing at 7,202 yards and a par of 71, Knollwood proved a stern test for much of the field. Pregler, however, found his rhythm early.

Starting on No. 10, the University of Texas at San Antonio commit birdied four of five holes on his opening nine, including three straight on Nos. 15, 16 and 17, to separate himself from the field.

“I felt good and got in a groove,” Pregler said.

Despite building a two-shot advantage, Pregler knows there is still plenty of golf remaining.

“I got off to a good start, but there’s more golf to play,” he said. “I just have to stick to my game plan and keep grinding.”

Alone in second place and two shots back is 16-year-old Keane Taino, of Pinehurst, North Carolina, who carded a 1-under-par 70. Taino mixed four birdies with three bogeys to post the day’s only other under-par round.

Taino, the No. 140-ranked player in the AJGA rankings, played the course's three par 5s in 2-under par.

“I played pretty solid in general,” Taino said. “I had a few errant tee shots in the beginning, which I worked out. I hit my spots, putted well and competed really well.”

In a two-way tie for third at even-par 71 are 18-year-old Jake Valentine, of Palm Beach Gardens, Florida and 15-year-old SJ Thomas, of Birmingham, Alabama.

The leaderboard remains tightly packed behind the duo, with seven players tied for fifth at 1-over par, 15 players tied for 12th at 2-over and another 13 players tied for 27th at 3-over.

Following Wednesday's second round, the field will be cut to the low 44 players and ties for Thursday's final 36 holes of stroke play. Entering the second round, 11 players are tied for 40th place at 4-over par.

The winner this week will join past Western Junior champions Collin Morikawa, Rickie Fowler and Jim Furyk, while also earning a three-year exemption into the Western Amateur Championship. The top three finishers and ties will receive exemptions into the 2026 Western Amateur, provided spots remain available in the field.

Attendance and parking for the Western Junior are free.

For the full leaderboard, click here.

For tee times, click here.