WOOD RIVER, Ill. (June 11, 2011) -- The 8th East Side Amateur got off to a wet start Saturday morning. Storms that pushed through the area in the early morning hours caused a 1-hour delay to the starting times. The golf course was very wet with a substantial amount of casual water.
The wet conditions meant soft, receptive putting greens, which in turn meant low scores would be plentiful. Seventeen players found their way around Belk Park Golf Course in par or better.
Leading the way was recent US Amateur Public Links Qualifier Phil Caravia (Gateway National GL) with a 4-under par 68. Caravia's round included 6 birdies and 1 double-bogey on his card.
Five player are 2 shots back at 2-under, including two of the Seniors in the field, Don Bliss (Persimmon Woods GC) and Jeff Johnson (Bogey Hills CC). These two also sit atop the early standings for MAGA Senior Player of the Year, so this could be a developing storyline for the rest of the 2011 season.
Round 2 will begin at 7:00 a.m. Sunday morning, with the leaders going off around 12:00 p.m.