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NEW ROCHELLE, N.Y. -- The New York State Golf Association hosted 157 of the best Empire State amateur golfers at Wykagyl Country Club on Monday. 

The players traveled from around the state to compete in the 100th New York State Men’s Amateur Championship. After a 2-hour delay, tee times for the first 18 holes began at 9:30 a.m., and the second wave ran through 4:30 p.m. Due to this delay, 18 of the late afternoon groups had to pause and restart early Tuesday morning at 7:30am to finish their first rounds. Tee times for the second round will be pushed back to an 8:00am start.

Related: Results / Photos / Preview / Championship Central

The opening day saw some players who were able to control their ball through the elements and wind, and shoot low scores, while others struggled in the wet conditions, and afternoon winds at Wykagyl, and fell behind early.

Leading the pack at the end of the day was Ben Carpenter, of GlenArbor Golf Club, who started his day on the back nine (No. 10) and fired an opening 67 to take the lead heading into Tuesday’s second round.

Carpenter was on a mission after he made eagle on his first hole (No. 10) to set the tone for his strong round. With five more birdies on the card, including a 3-under on his back nine, he established himself early as a clear contender for the centennial championship. 

“I just stayed steady all day. Played the par 5’s five-under and rest of the course even and that was my gameplan going into today. Just being steady,” said Carpenter about his round.

This is the Yale University golfer's first NYS Men’s Amateur, and he definitely stepped up early. Even when Carpenter carded his first bogey on his fourth hole (No. 13), he bounced back and dropped back-to-back birdies on 14 and 15.

“Still have three rounds left, a lot of golf to play,” said Carpenter about his mentality going into round two. “Like I said, I just can't get ahead of myself. I'm just going to go in, one shot at a time, try to play the par 5’s well, and par the rest of the holes.”

The Connecticut native won that state's amateur last season. He also claimed a MGA Carter Cup junior title in 2020 at Baltusrol.

Dean Muratore of MET PGA Junior Golf Club, also had a memorable day, and had an impressive round of 3-under 69, only two strokes off the current pace. 

Muratore is coming off a runner-up performance at the NYS Boys’ 18U Junior Amateur at Lake Placid Club in late July.

Only two bogeys found their way onto Muratore’s card, and he was able to collect five birdies.

Also tied at 2-under thru 15 holes on Monday evening was 2021 NYS Men’s Am Champion James Allen of Scarsdale Golf Club and William Celiberti of Gardiner’s Bay Country Club. They had to finish their rounds in the morning, and both dropped a birdie on Tuesday morning to sit at 3-under thru 18 holes.

At 2-under, was Mid-Hudson Qualifier Medalist Ben Loomis, and Ryan Rittberger of Garden City Golf Club.

Four other players finished or unfinished under par during the opening round. At 1-under is 2018 NYS Boys’ 14U champion Anthony Maglisco of The Pompey Club.

Sam O’Hara of Maidstone Club and Leo Chu of Hudson Hills Golf Course finished their rounds in the morning at even par.

Also sitting at 1-under with several holes left to complete on Tuesday was Jeremy Sisson of Skaneateles Country Club (thru 14 holes), and Benjamin Peacock of MGA eClub - NYC (thru 11 holes). Sisson finished at even par, while Peacock finished at 6-over 78.

2022 champion Charlie Berridge of Wykagyl Country Club opened his title defense sitting 4-over thru 15 holes. On Tuesday morning, he recorded one more bogey to finish at 77.

The course played at 6,690 yards and to a par of 72.

On Tuesday, the players who were unable to finish their rounds due to darkness will finish in the early morning. After, the field will play their second round of 18 holes. A 36-hole cut will then be applied to the low 40 players and ties, who will move into the final two rounds on Wednesday.