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LOUDONVILLE, NY – The 40th NYS Men’s Mid-Amateur Championship kicked off on Friday at the Schuyler Meadows Club in the Capital Region.

The field, which included 120 of the state’s top male amateur players over the age of 25, enjoyed comfortable temperatures and a pristine golf course in the opening round after the course had received a lot of heavy rain the two days prior.

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Kyle Downey of Locust Hill Country Club got off to a blistering start in Round 1. The 2023 Men’s Amateur Champion fired an nine-under 63, setting the course record at Schuyler Meadows Club. It was Downey's lowest outright round of his career and his only solo course record (he is tied with two others at Brook-Lea CC).

It also marks the lowest round in 40 years of the NYS Mid-Am championship.

"Just because it was so soft today, I could hit driver pretty much everywhere. I could hit my big cut-fade off the tee and it landed in the fairway and didn't roll out in the fairway. Last time I played here in the state am, the fairways were a lot firmer, so you actually had to shape the ball off the tee to keep it in the fairway", said Downey about the post-rain conditions. "You didn't have to do that today, you could just kind of bomb and gauge. I hit it to 100-140 yards every single hole and my wedges and nine irons were really good today."

Downey, who finished runner-up at the 2022 Mid-Amateur at Seven Oaks, poured in a whopping ten birdies in the astonishing performance. He made only one bogey. Downey will tee off for the second round with a seven stroke lead. 

"I have to give credit to my caddy, Connor Kiel, who's a freshman golfer at Siena right now. We were on the same page, and I would not have made a couple putts without his intelligence. I have to thank him," he continued about the record round.

Eight players are currently tied in second place at two under par. Joel Jakubowicz of Yahnundasis Golf Club, Carter Thompson of the Creek, Joseph Feeney of Midvale Country Club, Wills Reardon of Piping Rock Club, Austin Teal of Schuyler Meadows Club, Andy Bernatovicz of River Oaks Golf Club, Jim Hirsh of NYSGA eClub - Central NY and Blake Gianniny of Country Club of Rochester all carded a 70 and sit seven behind Downey. 

Five more players, including past NYS Junior Champion Benjamin Bates of NYSGA eClub - Capital Region, finished in red numbers on day one. The one under 71 leaves the group eight behind the leader. 

An 18-hole cut was applied to the field, with 68 players at 4-over 76 or better advancing into Saturday.

Competition will resume at 8:00am Saturday morning, with play going off only No. 1 tee for the second round of action.

Schuyler Meadows was set up at 6,837 yards and played to a par of 37-35-72.