Brian Eaton said windy conditions at CrossWinds Golf Course on Saturday morning posed plenty of challenges.

Still, Eaton’s opening round at the Pickens Amateur Championship wasn’t as difficult as most.

Eaton, a Fountain Run native who played prep golf at Allen County-Scottsville, is alone atop the leaderboard with a 2-under-par 69 heading into today’s final 18. He leads a trio of golfers – Josh Jones, Tyler Stewart and two-time Pickens champion John Kirby – who came in at 1-under 70.

“The wind was always a factor,” Eaton said. “Some holes it’s a two-club difference. Some holes it’s an advantage because the wind’s behind you, others it’s a disadvantage because it makes it longer.”

The quartet of Will Beard, Sam Steen, Jared Combs and Adam McDonald stands at even-par 71, while Chris Kendall, Andy Roberts and current Paul Walker Memorial champion Matt Fuqua are at 72.

Fuqua, a Western Kentucky golfer whose victory at the Paul Walker has him atop the city amateur standings, said wind wreaked havoc on his early-morning round. After a pair of birdies to start the day, Fuqua said atmospheric conditions were a major factor in his double bogey on No. 7.

“About 9:30 this morning, the wind was just howling,” Fuqua said. “I don’t know how to relate it to the afternoon rounds. (On No. 7) there was a side wind, and it knocked (the shot) down tremendously. I was in the bunker, and I had a fried-egg (lie).”

Four other players are within four strokes at 2-over 73, including the University of Kentucky’s Jordan Blann – the 2005 Pickens winner – along with Adam Switzer, Josh Earnest and Larry Maxwell.

Eaton – who started on the back nine – began with missed opportunities on a couple of short putts, but an eagle on No. 12 lifted his spirits. Still, Eaton stumbled somewhat into the turn, standing a 2-over par.

“I got to the back side and a buddy of mine told me that even par was the low score (at the time), so that’s what I was trying to get back to,” Eaton said. “On the back side, I came out and struck the ball well and was able to make some birdies.”

One of those four back-nine birdies came courtesy of a mammoth drive on the par-5 second hole, when Eaton laced a driver over a pond and landed within about 30 yards of the hole.

Eaton’s plan to protect his one-shot lead today is simple.

“Just come out and play a better game than I did today,” he said. “I caught some breaks today. Tomorrow’s a new day, so just come out and stay focused on what I need to do.”

Players such as Fuqua, however, who must chase the leaders, must hope they slip up.

“Sunday’s always tougher,” Fuqua said. “There’s always a lot of pressure. It’s tough to go out there and keep making birdies, and sometimes you go out there and get defensive and it’s easy to get passed. Hopefully I can be one of those guys who passes.”