James Dornes was able to overcome a rainy Monday afternoon at Manchester’s Augusta Country Club to fire a 7-under par 63 in the first day of the two-day Charlie’s Maine Open.
Dornes, who resides in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, goes into the final round with a two-shot advantage over Greater Bangor Open winner Jason Thresher of West Suffield, Connecticut, and former Maine Open champ Geoffrey Sisk of Marshfield, Massachusetts.
Thresher and Sisk both shot a 5-under 65.
Thresher set the tone for the day with his 65 in the first group of the day, but soggy conditions did not slow Dornes in the afternoon.
Dornes, a graduate of Penn State University who recently turned pro, hit 16 greens in regulation and recorded just one bogey.
Thresher also recorded just a single bogey while Sisk turned in a bogey-free round.
David Denlinger of Lancaster, Pennsylvania, and Michael Carbone of Brewster, Massachusetts, are tied for fourth after shooting 4-under 66, while Shawn Warren (2004) of Cape Elizabeth and Matthew Campbell (2015) of Clifton Park, New York, both former Maine Open champs, each carded a 67 to put themselves in contention.
The low amateur competition features a four-way tie between Maine golfers Ricky Jones, the 2006 champion of Thomaston, Minot’s Will Kannegieser, Deer Isle’s Sam Grindle and Auburn’s Craig Chapman, who all sit at even-par 70.
The low 20 amateurs and ties will play in Tuesday’s final round. Jones was the last amateur to win the tourney.
The final round will start at 7 a.m. Tuesday, with the winner pocketing $9,000.
