Defending champion Cole Patterson is in a three-way tie for the lead after the first round of the Greenville County Am at Holly Tree. (GolfClub Photo)

The last 15 groups of golfers finished their first round early Saturday and there is now a three-way tie for the lead at the Greenville County Amateur.

Defending champion Cole Patterson, two-time champion Chris Eassy and former Louisville golfer JD Lehman all finished round one at 5-under par.

Paterson won the 2019 championship at Fox Run while Eassy was the winner of the 2004 and 2017 Greenville County titles.

2004 and 2017 champion Chris Eassy is tied for the lead after the first round of the Greenville County Amateur (GolfClub Photo)

The second round morning golfers were all on the course by 11 am at Holly Tree.

Fridays first round was delayed by almost four hours because of lightning.

Golfers played until darkness at 8:45 in an attempt to finish as much of the round as possible.

Jimmy McCollum and Connor Blackwelder were the leaders at the time.

Both golfer posted 3-under par rounds of 69.

Scores for the first round can be found at http://www.upstategolfclub.com