HASTINGS-ON-HUDSON, N.Y. (June 10, 2024) – A 6-under 65 placed Michael Miller of Knollwood atop the leaderboard at the 102nd Westchester Open Championship Presented by Poland Spring on Monday as the four-time WGA champion registered eight birdies on the day at The Saint Andrew’s Golf Club to earn a four-shot lead.
Related: Rd. 1 Results | Photos
Miller capitalized on the par-5s, playing them in 4-under on the day, while also admitting he let a few shots get away from him on the greens, including a short miss on the closer.
“I hit the ball really well today,” reported Miller, 32. “I’m in a good spot, feeling good, hitting it good and I’ve never won this tournament and I’ve always wanted to. Anytime I get a chance to play close to home, in the MGA or WGA, it’s something that means a lot to me and I’d like to continue to do well.”
Miller’s hottest stretch came between Nos. 12 and 17, when he made four birdies in the six-hole stretch. Overall, Miller liked the way the course played and hopes to see a lot of the same for Tuesday’s 36-hole day.
“It was really playable today,” said Miller. “The wind was up a little bit. You had to think your way around it, it’s not just a bomber’s paradise. And I like that kind of golf. If you hit it well, you’re rewarded. So hopefully, I keep hitting it well and just kind of stay away from trouble.”
Miller’s game has been sharp as of late, having medaled at the U.S. Open local qualifier at Country Club of Darien and taken the first alternate position in a playoff in final qualifying last week at Canoe Brook. As of Monday afternoon, he was the sixth alternate for the U.S. Open and is currently planning to head to Pinehurst after the Westchester Open. The two-time WGA Player of the Year credits a positive winter to the state of his game.
“I had a really nice winter — lost some weight, got rejuvenated you could say,” Miller said. “I’ve been having some fun, I’ve got a good family life at home at the moment and a lot of things are going right, so if I could just keep playing well and let everything else take care of itself, things are good.”
Meanwhile, host club professional and 2011 Westchester Open champion Greg Bisconti also had a solid start, recording one of four rounds of 2-under 69.
“I felt pretty good,” said Bisconti, who has been at Saint Andrew’s for 26 years. “Obviously any time you’re playing at your home course, there’s pressure there. I got off to a pretty good start, and just kind of settled the nerves throughout the round and ended up playing pretty well.”
Also at 2-under is five-time WGA champion Christian Cavaliere of Hudson National. The amateur’s round was highlighted by an eagle on the par-5 seventh, and a stretch of three consecutive birdies on Nos. 14-16.
Chris Gabriele of Quaker Ridge and Peter Ballo of The Connecticut Golf Club also sit at 2-under after day one. Ballo had an eagle on the par-5 ninth hole.
Six players turned in rounds of 1-under 70 to round out sub-par scores on the day: past champion and recent Met PGA Head Professional winner Mike Ballo, Jr. , of Tamarack, Cian Curley of Trump National – Westchester, James Giampaolo of Fairview, David Schuster of Sleepy Hollow, Nick Dilio of Silo Ridge, and Chris Trout of the Golf Club of Purchase.
Following Monday’s opening round, a cut was made to the low 40 scores and ties, with 46 players advancing behind scores of 3-over 74 or better. While 11 past champions were in the field, just five made the cut: Bisconti , Ballo, Jr ., Thomas Sutter of Dunwoodie, Frank Bensel of Century, and Paul Pastore of Fairview.
The second round will begin at 8:30 a.m., on Tuesday with players going off both Nos. 1 and 10. The final pairing of Miller and Bisconti will tee off the 10th hole at 10:20 a.m. The final round of the 54-hole championship will then take place in the afternoon.
Historic Saint Andrew’s Golf Club, one of the five founding members of the USGA, is hosting its first-ever Westchester Open Championship.
