Rockport, ME---Experience and youth collided atop the leaderboard during round one of the Samoset Open. Twenty-five-year old Rob Oppenheim, the current money and point leader, fashioned a 4-under 66 and shares the early lead with two-time New England Open champion Rick Karbowski, who carded his lowest score on Tour in two years. Geoff Sisk, second to Oppenheim in the point race, shot 68 and is tied for third.

During placid early morning conditions, Oppenheim opened with birdies on two of his first four holes and made the turn in 2-under 32. He then offset his lone back nine bogey, on no. 15, with three birdies to record his eighth sub 68 score in 22 rounds.   

Oppenheim parlayed his only other first round lead this season into victory at the season-opening Atkinson Open.

Karbowski, meanwhile, is playing in just his second event of the season. His only other encounter with Samoset resulted in a tie for 19^th last season that ended sourly with a triple bogey on no. 18, a 478 yard hole that ranked third most difficult on Tour last year.

“I just played it like a par 5,” said Karbowski, who laid up short of the water in front of the green in two then hit an 8-iron to 15 feet for par. “My mind was completely made up.”

No. 18 played to an average of 5.01, more than half a shot higher than the next most difficult hole.

Sisk, a three-time winner on Tour last year, has posted seven top 10s this season but no wins. He shares third with Nick Cook, Marc Lawless and Mike Carbone, all of whom have yet to claim their maiden CGT triumph.

Michael Harris, a winner in six of his last 12 events, stands tied for 7^th after an opening 69. Highlights during his torrid stretch include a tie for 21^st in the PGA TOUR’s Bell Canadian Open, two Canadian Tour victories, a pair of state open victories and an exemption through the first stage of PGA TOUR qualifying school via his fist place finish on the Canadian Tour order of merit.

Locally, Samoset’s Jeff Seavey shot 70. Portland resident Dave Cummings shot 75.

This week’s field of 100 will be reduced to the low 38 players and ties following Friday’s second round. Eighteen players shot even par or better.