BRUNSWICK, Maine — Low scores were hard to come by during the first round of the 98th Maine Amateur Golf Championship on Tuesday at Brunswick Golf Club.
And the golfers who shot those low numbers seemed to have a relatively low excitement level in shooting those scores.
Sam Grindle of Island Country Club in Deer Isle was all alone at the top after the first round of the three-day tournament, shooting a 4-under 68 to take a one-shot lead over four other players.
“I’ll take it,” Grindle said. “It’s a good start to the tournament.”
Grindle said his play was “so far, so good,” but was quick to point out that there’s still more golf to be played.
Will Kannegieser of Martindale Country Club in Auburn had a similar sentiment after carding a 3-under 69.
Kannegieser nearly joined Grindle at 4-under, if not for an unfriendly roll on a short putt on the 17th hole.
“I hit a good putt, probably a little bit too hard, and it just didn’t go in,” Kannegieser said. “It’s one shot. There’s a lot of golf to be played.”
The Minot native made the turn at 3 under, eagled the par-5 12th to go to 5 under, but followed that up with bogeys on the 13th and 15th holes.
“The fourth and the sixth holes are two of the hardest holes in the state, and so I’m not really that upset that I made bogeys there,” Kannegieser said. “I hit a lot of good shots and it just didn’t work out.”
There were a pair of Martindale players slotted in second. Joe Baker carded the first 69 of the day after starting his round at 7:30 a.m. with the fourth group of the day.
“I hit the ball good. Left the ball on the right side of the hole most of the day. Didn’t make as many putts as I wanted, but made enough to post a good number,” said Baker, who finished third at last year’s Maine Amateur.
Baker said he prefers to get out early before the wind and green speeds pick up. However, he’ll be starting later tomorrow, and will have to deal with those elements.
“I don’t think anything’s going to be any different. Just keep hitting fairways and greens and try to make some putts,” Baker said.
Joining Kannegieser and Baker at 3-under were Jack Wyman of Portland Country Club and Judd Parsons of York Golf & Tennis Club. Parsons finished tied for fifth at last year’s tournament, two shots back of Grindle, who was fourth.
Nate McCue from host Brunswick and Tim Desmarais of Riverside Golf Club shot 2-under 70s to sit tied for sixth. Brian Bilodeau of Martindale was all alone at 1-under 71.
There will be a new champion this year after last year’s winner at York Golf & Tennis, Matt Hutchins, moved out of the state.
Last year’s runner-up, Ricky Jones, finished at even par in the first round, tied with 2014 champion Andrew Slattery, who is a former Martindale member. Jones was the 2013 champion and also won back-to-back titles in 2003 and 2004.
Four other golfers joined Slattery and Jones at 72.