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LAKE PLACID, N.Y. – Eight players fired under par during the opening round of the 81st NYS Boys’ 18U Junior Amateur at Lake Placid Club.

Dante Bertoni of En-Joie GC holds the early lead after shooting 4-under par 67 on the Links Course.

Related: Championship Central / Results / Photos / Preview 

The 2023 New York State Public High School Athletic Association Boys Golf Champion’s opening round included four birdies, along with an eagle on No. 3.

"I'm just going to keep everything the same," Bertoni said about how he might shift his approach tomorrow. "I had one three putt today, I'm going to try not to three putt and I'm going to keep being agressive. I don't want to hold back anything and stuff will start getting wild, so I'm just going to keep playing my game."

The classic Seymour Dunn layout, surrounded by the picturesque Adirondack High Peaks, was setup at 6,689 yards and par of 71.

One stroke behind the leader is Tyler Berkman of Potsdam Town & CC. He posted a bogey-free 68.

Berkman qualified for the U.S. Junior Amateur and failed to advance past the stroke play qualifying rounds at Daniel Island Club in South Carolina on Monday and Tuesday. He rushed back to New York and was able to make his tee time this morning after a hectic day of travel.

Six players sit at 1-under 70 including Spencer Cohen of North Shore CC, Dean Muratore of Met PGA Junior Golf Club, Braydon Dock of Glens Falls CC, Tommy Mangan of Apawamis Club, Owen Jessop of Westhampton CC, and Kellen Dean of McGregor Links GC.

Four more posted even par in the first round, including Jack Tebeau of Crag Burn GC, Matthew Difiore of Youth on Course – MGA, Jakub Sutor of MET PGA Junior GC and YiWen Wang of Saxon Woods GC. 

In the 66th NYS Boys’ 14U Championship, Cobblestone Creek's Ethan Domajnko shot 1-under 70 and holds a four-stroke advantage entering Thursday's final round.

"I was playing pretty well, hit a lot of good tee shots and birdied the par 5s," he said about what contributed to his success today. "I also had my brother caddying, so that helped. It was definitely a tough walk but I just paced myself."

Tied at three-over par 74 are two players, Jeff Fumarola Ballston Spa CC and Connor Jackson of East Aurora CC.

Wykagyl CC’s Colin McAskin sits at 4-under 75. John Paddock of Monroe GC sits at 76, while Drew Mancini of RDGA Junior is at 77.

The Mountain Course was setup to 6,009 yards for the age group 14 and under. 

Tomorrow, both championships will tee off for round two, after which a champion will be decided for the 14U field. In the Boys’ 18U, the field will be cut after 36-holes to the low-36 and ties for Friday morning’s final round of competition.