KANNAPOLIS — Remember the name: Russell Killough.

He’s an 18-year-old rising senior at Independence High School in Mint Hill who is playing against older pros and amateurs in this week’s Adelphia North Carolina Open.

All Killough did was shoot a 4-under-par 68 in Tuesday’s opening round, leaving him three strokes off the pace set by Oak Island’s Steve Isley.

The first Killough alert I received at Kannapolis Country Club Tuesday came from Lamar Gilmore, a pro shop assistant who was out on the course. He told me about Killough’s 9-iron shot that reached the par-5, 530-yard No. 15 hole in two shots. Killough made the eagle.

Later, Kannapolis head pro Alan Cress told me that Killough had just shot a 68 and that I could probably find him around the clubhouse.

“What does he look like?” I asked.

“Like Tiger Woods,” responded Cress.

Sure enough, when I walked down to the clubhouse, a tall, young golfer who somewhat resembles Tiger was in the area.

Killough didn’t know how long he hit his drive on the par-5 15th, but he said, “I had 164 left in and I hit a 9-iron about 10 feet and made it.”

The eagle gave him some momentum for the rest of the round.

“I birdied the next hole (par-4 16th), then I lipped out for birdie on 17 (par-3), then I birdied 18,” he said.

Killough had another great round in the recent state 4A high school tournament at Pinehurst No. 6.

“I was leading the first day.I shot the lowest score for the state. The state record was 66, and I shot 65. I shot 77 the second day,” he said.

Killough finished third and made all-state.

How did the youngest player in the field handle playing against older and more experienced players?

“I tried to stay loose out there. I tried not to let the pressure get to me. I just try to play the best I can,” he said.

Today’s goal?

“Just play the best I can and try to get in contention for the last day,” he said.

The low 60 pros plus amateurs will make the 36-hole cut.

Killough can’t be recruited by major colleges until July, but indicates he would like to stay in the state.

“I’m thinking about going to Wake Forest or Chapel Hill. I don’t really know yet,” he pointed out.

The club and teaching pros in the field were impressed at the teen-ager’s accomplishment.

“That’s impressive. That’s a good score,” said Jeff Lankford of Mocksville, one of the tournament favorites and a former champion.

“I don’t know him personally, but you’ve got to be a good player to shoot that on this course in a tournament situation,” said Lankford.

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Contact Ed Dupree at 704-797-4258 or edupree@salisburypost.com .