ELMSFORD, N.Y. (June 30, 2009) - Twenty-eight-year-old Hal Berman of Middle Bay Country Club 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 Falussy of Bethpage, both of whom shot 69. A trio of players are one shot farther back at 70, including Mike Ballo Jr. of Woodway, the 2009 Westchester Amateur champion. Jonathan Renza of Mohansic and Chris DeForest of Rondout are also at 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 flop 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 Bakst, who won the 1996 Met Amateur here. Bakst has had a good season already, winning the Hochster Memorial at Quaker Ridge just one week ago. 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 players who teed off in the afternoon wave in today’s first round faced breezier conditions than the morning players. The best score of the afternoon players were the even-par 70s turned in by Renza, who won the 2007 MGA/MetLife Boys Championship, and DeForest, who plays for the University of Illinois and competed in the NCAA Championships this spring.

   Reigning MGA Player of the Year Joe Saladino of Huntington stands in a tie for seventh at one-over 71, and capped his round with an eagle two at the 386-yard 18th hole. “I drove it in the rough and thought it might jump out, so I hit a 60-degree wedge,” said a smiling Saladino. “It took a hop and then trickled right into the hole.” Joining Saladino at 71 were Michael Corbo of Rockaway River and David Weisfeld of Fenway.

   Other notables include 2007 Carter Cup champion Max Buckley of Westchester Hills, who had a 73, Michael Quagliano of GlenArbor, also at 73, and defending champion Kevin Foley, who struggled to a 76 and made the cut on the number by hitting a gap wedge to two feet on the 18th hole. Out of four players from the host club to begin play today, only Keith Larsen (76) made the cut to advance to the second day. In all, 47 players made the 18-hole cut.