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WILLIAMSVILLE, N.Y. – Christian Chapman shot 4-under and leads the 42nd NYS Men’s Mid-Amateur after round one, opening a six-shot lead. He was the only player in red figures after a gusty Monday at Country Club of Buffalo.

Related: Results / Photos / Round Two Tee Times / Championship Central

Chapman was one-over through six and found his first birdie on hole 7, a par five. He made light work of 10, birdieing the short par-4 and then birdied the 11th, statistically the second hardest hole on the course. 

The Cobblestone Creek Country Club member birdied the other par 5, 13, and then made one of only two birdies on the 17th hole. Another birdie on the 18th hole wrapped up a round of 66, four-under. It was the only round on Monday that was under par. The 2016 Boys’ 18U champion leads by six going into round two. 

“I did a really good job of staying patient out there, it was tough,” Chapman said. “I did not think 66 was in my round today, I thought if I shot anywhere under 75 I was going to be pretty happy… Probably in my top-five most difficult rounds I’ve played all year.” 

Chapman said it was his first time at Country Club of Buffalo, it looked like he had played it hundreds of times. Chapman talked about losing some confidence in his game at the end of 2025 as he finished T3 at last year’s championship. Between playing in two USGA championships, holding the 54-hole lead at the NYS Men’s Am, and winning the RDGA Mid-Am, he's been reminded this year: he’s good at golf.

“I still got it, that’s for sure,” Chapman said. “I firmly believe I’m one of the best players in the state, if not one of the best mid-am’s in the country… nobody is going to tell me otherwise, as long as I have that self-belief, I’m going to keep going out here and doing the best I can.”

The closest contestants to Chapman finished at two-over. One of the youngest members of the field, Jack Maguire (Whippoorwill Club) birdied 1, 7, and 10 and never scored worse than bogey for a round of 72. He played in a group with Chapman and with David Hanes (T25). Brian Williams (Winged Foot Golf Club) birdied the second toughest par-4, 3, and the hardest hole on the course, 16. He added an eagle on 7 for good measure as he also shot 72 going one-over both the out and the in. 

Jacob Katz (Brookfield Country Club) and Jack Coyne (MGA eClub - New York City) tied for fourth, each shooting four-over, 74. Coyne birdied 3 and 7 but double-bogeyed 12, a par-3. Katz birdied 7 and 14, a par-4, but doubled-bogeyed 6, “The Pulpit.”

Two-time defending champion Kyle Downey began his quest for the three-peat with a round of five-over, 75, good enough for T-6. He was tied for the lead among players who teed off in the morning wave. While Downey is among the list of three to have the championship in consecutive years, no player has ever three-peated. 

“It’s a confidence-builder that you have won this the past two years but I’m just trying to forget about that and focus on the single shot that I have at hand,” Downey said. “I put enough pressure on myself as it is so I’m trying to get that off of it.”

Sixty-two players advanced after the first cut as all rounds of 10-over or better survived. Tomorrow the top-30 plus ties will make the final round. Tee times begin at 8:00 am.