Glen Cove, N.Y. (June 30, 2009) – Twenty-eight-year-old Hal Berman of Middle Bay arrived at Nassau Country Club this morning for the 54th Ike Championship presented by Canon unsure if he would even be able to tee off because of a bad back. Not only did he play, but he shot the best round of the morning, a two-under 68, to hold the midday lead at the 54-hole stroke play championship. One stroke behind him are two other Long Islanders who have experience playing championships on this beautiful and challenging 6,565-yard, par-70 layout: Ken Bakst of Friar’s Head and Al Falussyof Bethpage, both of whom shot 69. Mike Ballo Jr. of Woodway, the 2009 Westchester Amateur champion, is two strokes in back of Berman after an even-par 70.

   “It was a great day. I didn’t even think I’d be able to play,” said Berman after his round. “But I went out there and just swung nice and easy, and got off to a good start with a birdie on the first hole. The turning point was a chip-in on 15. I hit a pretty bad shot there, and then hit a nice fop shot that trickled into the hole.”

   Berman has won at the 6,565-yard, par 70 Nassau Country Club layout before, taking the prestigious Nassau Invitational just last year. “I love this course, and luckily my back held up. I need to stretch now to get ready for [the 36-hole final day] tomorrow.”

   Another player with good vibes at Nassau is Ken Bakst of Friar’s Head, who won the 1996 Met Amateur here. Bakst has had a good season already, winning the Hochster Memorial at Quaker Ridge unsure. The 51-year-old characterized his round as a good score.

   “I grinded and made a few really good pars. The rough is tough. You can’t control the ball out of the rough and there are some narrow fairways here so you really have to hit some accurate shots to play well. So far I’m having fun and I’m looking forward to 36 holes tomorrow.”

   Along with Bakst, Falussy and Berman, the only other player to shoot even par or better this morning was Mike Ballo Jr. of Woodway.  Ballo, who will be a senior at St. John’s University, won the Westchester Amateur earlier this month at Fairview Country Club in a decisive 8 & 7 final match.

   The afternoon wave of tee times in today’s first round includes defending champion Kevin Foley of Neshanic Valley, reigning MGA Player of the Year Joe Saladino of Huntington, and Michael Quagliano of GlenArbor. Follow all the action with updated scoring at www.mgagolf.org.