Aiden Spampinato gets out to narrow lead at New York Amateur

Aiden Spampinato gets out to narrow lead at New York Amateur

Aiden Spampinato (New York State Golf Association Photo)

Over 160 of New York State’s top amateur players teed it up at Wanakah Country Club on Tuesday for the first round of the 101st NYS Men’s Amateur Championship. 

The field navigated windy, overcast conditions on Tuesday to open the 72-hole tournament. A challenging layout coupled with a few wicked pin locations kept the players’ hands full in the opening round. Only nine players made their way around Wanakah under par.

Aiden Spampinato of Cobblestone Creek Country Club fired a 5-under 67 to open a one-stroke lead at the conclusion of Round 1. 

The Rochester area player came flying out of the gates with five birdies in his first six holes. Spampinato found himself seven under par through ten holes before dropping a few strokes after the turn. The Methodist University product made six straight pars to close out his opening round, leaving him at five under par for the day. 

“The front nine felt like the easiest round I was ever going to have, and then I got to the back, and reality kicked in a little bit,” said Spampinato after his first round. “Overall, I played really well today and kept it together, which I was very proud of, and I’m excited for tomorrow.

Winged Foot Golf Club’s Nolan Forsman turned in a four-under 68 to finish Tuesday in second place. The 23-year-old and recent graduate of Santa Clara University made only one bogey on the Par 3 15th in an impressive opening-round effort. 

Following Forsman was one of his playing partners, Josh German of Meadow Brook Club. German fired a three-under 69 to remain a mere two strokes from the top of the leaderboard heading into second-round play. 

Carl Schimenti of Cornell University Golf Club and the 2021 NYS Men’s Mid-Amateur Champion finished at two under par. The Ithaca native kept himself thoroughly in the mix with four birdies and a bogey-free back nine. 

Five players, including Alex Zurat of Oak Hill Country Club, Ryan Rittberger of Garden City Golf Club, Brody Burgess of Cobblestone Creek Country Club and 2007 NYS Men’s Amateur Champion John Duthie of Cornell University Golf Club closed out their first rounds at one under par.

Ten other players shot even par during Tuesday’s round at the Willie Watson design, including 2021 champion James Allen of Scarsdale Golf Club.

Play will resume at 7:30 am tomorrow for the final round before the field is cut to the low 40 and ties after 36 holes.

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