SPRINGFIELD, N.J. (August 3, 2006) – Under sweltering conditions at Baltusrol Golf Club in Springfield, New Jersey, Terry Maguire of Storm King fired a two-under-par 69 on the Lower Course to lead the field of 68 players in the qualifying portion of the 104th Met Amateur Championship.  Reigning MGA/MetLife Public Links Champion Mark Farrell and David Lane of the Patterson Club carded rounds of one-over 72 to stand three strokes behind Maguire.

The field, already facing Baltusrol’s long and difficult Upper and Lower Courses, were also forced to withstand the 100 degrees temperature. Maguire, who was a quarterfinalist at the Westchester Amateur earlier this season, finished the front nine with a four-under 31. He will play the Upper Course this afternoon, as will Farrell and Lane.

Lane carded his 72 after a recovering from an early bogey with consecutive birdies at the sixth and seventh holes.  Farrell also rebounded after a difficult front nine to shoot three-under 33 on the Lower Course’s inward nine, to finish at 72.  Defending champion Ron Vannelli of Metuchen had a difficult opening round 82 that saw two front-nine triple bogeys. 

Play at the 104th Met Amateur Championship continues this afternoon at Baltusrol. After today’s 36-hole stroke play qualifying, the top 16 finishers will move on to match play beginning tomorrow. Log on to www.mgagolf.org for scoring updates throughout the day.