Suffolk teenager John David Sanderson proved he was one of the top junior amateur golfers in Virginia last week.

This week in the 98^th Virginia State Golf Association (VSGA) Amateur Championship, Sanderson’s simply one of the best amateurs in the commonwealth.

Specifically, Sanderson’s one of the top 32 as he advanced through two days of stroke play with rounds of 72 and 69 for a one-under par total at The Virginian Golf Club in Bristol (par 71, 6,938 yards).

In Tuesday’s first round, Sanderson, who’s a member at Cedar Point Country Club and goes to school at Summit Christian Academy, played a steady round and carded two birdies. Sanderson made a three on the 343-yard par four No. 12 and a four on the 552-yard par five closing hole.

Round two was even more consistent. Sanderson made a birdie three on the 328-yard No. 7 and made a four on the par five No. 18 again. Sanderson tallied 16 pars the rest of the way around, finishing in a tie for 12^th.

The top 32 in the field of 120 players advanced to the match play portion of the tournament.

The VSGA Amateur Championship is one of the most physically-testing golf tournaments, pro or amateur. Not only does it take place in the usual Virginia summer weather, but it tests a golfer’s attrition.

With 36 holes in the books, now players are trying to make it through two matches on Thursday, two matches on Friday and a 36-hole final match on Saturday.

Sanderson qualified through two days of stroke play and finished in the round of 16 of match play in the VSGA Junior Match Play Championship last week in Haymarket.

Sanderson meets Culpeper’s Chad Mozingo, who shot one-over 143 in stroke play, on Thursday morning.