It was a banner day for Swampscott native and former St. Mary’s star Christian Emmerich, who shot a 3-under 67 at Concord Country Club to move into third place after the opening round of the 91st New England Amateur Championship Tuesday.
Emmerich, a member at Kernwood Country Club, birdied two of his first three holes and three of his first seven to get off to a blazing start. After a bogey on the par-4 eighth hole, Emmerich put up five straight pars before making another birdie on the 14th hole to move back to 3-under. He also made birdie on the 17th, but a bogey on the par-4 18th left his score at 67 for the day.
Other local golfers competing at Concord on Tuesday included Swampscott native and Duke University senior Steven DiLisio (Salem CC) and former St. John’s Prep golfers Nick Maccario (Bradford CC) and Chris Francoeur (Amesbury G&CC).
Maccario, who finished runner-up in the 112th Massachusetts Amateur Championship last week, shot a 2-over 72 in the opening round to earn a tie for 25th place. The St. John’s Prep alum got off to a slow start, making two bogeys and a double-bogey en route to shooting a score of 3-over 38 on the front nine. He rebounded on the back nine, making birdie on the 10th and 13th holes to shoot a score of 34 and finish the day at 2-over.
The co-medalist from last week’s Massachusetts Amateur, former Prep star and current University of Rhode Island golfer Francoeur shot a 3-over 73 to earn a tie for 38th place. The 21-year-old was even-par for the majority of his round, making 12 straight pars to open his day. Unfortunately, bogeys on the 13th, 16th and 18th holes left him with a 73.
DiLisio also shot a score of 3-over 73 in the first round to tie for 38th place. The winner of the 2019 Massachusetts Amateur made two bogeys on the front nine and two bogeys on the back nine along with a lone birdie on the par-3 15th. After finishing with three straight pars, DiLisio finished the day with a 73.
The second round of the 91st New England Amateur Championship will begin Wednesday morning (7:30) back at Concord Country Club. Emmerich will tee off at 1:54 p.m. from the first tee, Maccario will tee off at 1:54 p.m. from the 10th tee, DiLisio will tee off at 2:05 p.m. from the first tee and Francoeur will tee off at 2:05 p.m. from the 10th tee.