HAMPDEN, Massachusetts (July 14, 2026) – GreatHorse knows championship golf. After all, it’s the reason the spectacular 7,600 yard layout was built. Each year the club hosts a signature Massachusetts or New England Championship, USGA Qualifier, or both. Given its pedigree, it was hardly a surprise that Round 1 of the 97th New England Amateur Championship saw past champions rising to the top.
In the early wave of play, 2024 Champion CJ Winchenbaugh (Oyster Harbors Club; MA) shot 69 (-3), keeping pace with the best of the morning. And in the afternoon, the past champions pairing of Eli Spaulding (Brunswick GC; ME – 2025 Champ), Joey Lenane (George Wright GC, MA – 2023 Champ) and Cody Paladino (Hartford GC; CT – 2021 Champ) stole the show.
While the field is stacked with 144 of the best amateur golfers in New England, everyone following on Tuesday was quickly drawn to the battle within the battle, between Spaulding and Lenane. Starting on the back nine, Spaulding got things started with a pair of birdies on Nos. 11 & 12 before Lenane answered, going birdie-eagle over the next two. Spaulding then birdied No. 15 before rattling off three-consecutive birdies (Nos. 18-2). Lenane added a pair of his own on Nos. 1 & 2, to keep pace.
Later on their back nine, Lenane kickstarted the duo with another birdie on No. 6, sparking Spaulding, who finished his round with three-straight birdies.
Were it a Best Ball event, the two would have combined for a 13-under 59. Alas, it is not, and Spaulding now holds the overnight lead thanks to his sizzling 64 (-8), one shy of the competitive course record, held by Ryan Downes (GreatHorse; MA).
“You know, my last round in the (2025) New England Amateur was also eight under par, at Neshobe (Golf Club), to win,” joked Spaulding. “So, it obviously feels great.”
With two stretches of three-straight birdies, Spaulding also talked about his streakiness as a player. “Sometimes, you know, I can be a bit of a streaky player. At least just when I start making birdies, it feels pretty easy just to make a couple more. And I mean, I was putting really well today.”
Lenane settled for 67 (-5) matching Zach Pelzar (Weston GC; MA) who also carded 67 playing in the group ahead of him.
Playing in the morning wave, and facing the more benign of conditions, Caden Piselli (Great River GC; CT) and Jacob Moody (Waterville CC; ME) made hay on the par 5s. Both birdied three of the four par-5s at GreatHorse and now find themselves on page 1 of the leaderboard. Piselli, who played this course previously during the 2024 New England Junior Amateur, turned in a 67 (-5), good for T2, while Moody, coming off a T3 finish at the Maine Amatuer, is close behind with his 68 (-4).
One behind that was the aforementioned Winchenbaugh 69, who has memories of success at GreatHorse, having previously won the New England Junior Amateur Championship on these same fairways back in 2024.
“It’s nice to, you know, play a course that I’ve done historically well at,” added Winchenbaugh. “There’s definitely a level of comfortability that I probably don’t get at some other courses. Still have to hit the hit the shots, but knowing I’ve been, you know, shooting low scores here in the past definitely, you know, gives me a little bit of ease.”
Action is set to resume with the start of Round 2 at 7:25 a.m. on Wednesday. Following Round 2 a cut will be made and the top 60 players (and ties) will advance to Thursday’s Final Round.
Low Rounds By State
CT: Caden Piselli – 67 (-5)
MA: Zach Pelzar & Joey Lenane – 67 (-5)
ME: Eli Spaulding – 64 (-8)
NH: Josiah Hakala – 70 (-2)
RI: Michael Hamilton – 70 (-2)
VT: Garren Poirier & Alex Leonard – 71 (-1)
