The Maryand State Golf Association's 90th Maryland Open, the state's oldest and top male golf tournament for professionals and amateurs, got off to a hot and sticky start Monday at Maryland Golf and Country Clubs near Bel Air.
A total of 120 golfers completed the first round of the three-day event, which continued with a second round Tuesday. Following Tuesday's round, the field will be cut to the low-40 players, plus ties, who were scheduled to play a third and final round today (Wednesday).
When play was over Monday, 12 players sat under par and another seven were at even par. Eight players, including Chris Demetrakis, withdrew from the tournament on Monday.
Leading the scoring after Monday's play was John O'Leary, a professional from Pleasant Valley Golf Club, who shot -5. O'Leary made seven birdies and two bogeys.
Professional Jim Estes (Olney Golf Park) shot -4 with five birdies and one bogey and amateur Sean Bosdosh, of Holly Hills Country Club, made eight birdies, but a double bogey and three bogeys left him at -3.
Havre de Grace native David Hutsell, one of three players in the field with local ties, had a -2 after three birdies and one bogey.
"Probably putting," said Hutsell, Monday evening when asked where he thought he had the most trouble. "Missed a few inside or around the 8-foot range that were makeable. Always have room for improvement."
With Monday night's passing storm, Hutsell believed the rain would not make a huge difference in the way the course is playing. "It might play a little longer, maybe," Hutsell said. "It's allowing scoring as soft as they [the greens] are."
Hutsell also thought that 12 players under par on the first day was "pretty good scoring." Hutsell noted he's seen this event won with final scores of 8-10 or so under par, but also remembers scoring closer to par on some of the tougher courses played over the years.
Joining Hutsell at -2 was Charlie Winegardner, an amateur from Old South Country Club, who also made three birdies and one bogey.
Michael Zeman, head pro at Maryland Golf, finished at +6 after a round with two birdies, a double bogey and six bogeys. Also from MGCC, amateur Billy Wingerd finished +3 with one birdie and four bogeys.
The other local player, amateur Anthony Hogg, of Mountain Branch Golf Course, made two birdies and four bogeys to finish at +2.
Defending champion Denny McCarthy, an amateur from Argyle Country Club, closed at +3, a mark that will be close to the cut line after Tuesday's completion of round two.