Charlie Woods is a chip off the old block at Junior PGA

He birdied three of his first six holes on the back to reach nine under for the event before consecutive bogeys dropped Woods back to seven under.

He is seven shots behind leader Lunden Esterline, a 2027 Auburn commit, with Max VanderMolen and Chase Yenser tied at nine under with 36 holes to play.

Woods, 16, failed to qualify for the match play rounds at last week's US Junior Amateur Championship in Dallas.

He is now seeking one of the two automatic spots on the Junior Ryder Cup team that will go to the top two finishers this week. There is also one captain's pick, although Woods is not thought to be in line to be selected for it.

A rising junior at the Benjamin School in Palm Beach, Florida., Woods won the AJGA's Team TaylorMade Invitational in May.