After day one at the 99th Maine Amateur Golf Championship, Presque Isle’s Ralph Michaud is nine strokes behind the leader, Cole Anderson of Camden, but very much in contention to reach the tournament’s final round.
Michaud shot a 4-over-par 75 Tuesday and is tied with five other players for 28th position in the field of 132 golfers.
He made bogeys on three of his first five holes but then settled in and played at 2-over-par over the final 13 holes. He finished the day parring 12 holes and getting one birdie, which came on the 475-yard par-5 third hole.
Michaud plays in the second round at Belgrade Lakes Golf Club on Wednesday, teeing off at 1:10 p.m., and if he makes the cut by finishing among the low 40 players (including ties), will earn a berth into Thursday’s final round and get an automatic berth in the 100th Maine Amateur, to be held next summer at Portland Country Club.
Anderson, a 17-year-old who is a three-time Maine High School Class A champion and competed in last year’s U.S. Amateur Championship, made six birdies and just one bogey en route to his round of 66. Anderson has verbally committed to play golf at Florida State University in 2019-20.
Last year’s champion, Jack Wyman of South Freeport, carded a 68 Tuesday and is just two strokes behind Anderson along with Drew Powell of Holden.
Another local golfer, Porter Gervais of Houlton Community Golf Course, is tied for 53rd after a 7-over-par 78.
Michaud, who is a member at Presque Isle Country Club and Aroostook Valley Country Club, had earned a spot in this week’s event by placing sixth in a qualifying tournament held at Waterville Country Club June 25.
It is the sixth time in his career that he has competed in the Maine Amateur.
Michaud, 57, is a three-time Cary Classic Tournament champion and has won the Spudland Open twice, the Maine Potato Blossom Festival Tournament twice and the McCain’s Open once. He has racked up 26 club championships at PICC and AVCC.
Michaud is a physical education teacher at Mapleton Elementary School, is set to begin his 35th year this fall, and serves as the girls’ varsity soccer coach and girls’ assistant varsity basketball coach at Presque Isle High School.
