PLYMOUTH – Before the first scores were turned in Thursday afternoon, Canasawacta Country Club owner Tim Carson made the statement that he believed this year’s member-guest tournament had one of its strongest fields ever.

Carson’s words were prophetic as 19 teams of the 90 entered in the tournament shot even par or better, and the first-year pairing of Josh Bennett and Scotty Seiler hold a one-shot lead over Nick Brunick and Paul Brunick after opening-round play.

Bennett and Seiler offset a lone bogey with six birdies and one eagle to shoot a seven-under-par 64. After Brunick and Brunick were Carson and Scott Seiler Sr. along with 2003 champions Doug Wilson and Joe Gutosky, who each shot 66.

“We’re going back out tomorrow, and we’re starting at even par again,” Seiler said. “Yeah, we have a one-stroke lead, but that is nothing right now. Any team can eagle the first hole and if we par it, now they have the lead. Golf can change with just one swing.”

Teeing off on the short par-three second to start their round, Bennett and Seiler anticipated making a confidence-building par to kickstart the day. What ensued was an untimely bogey, the only slip-up on an otherwise spotless scorecard.