WOODSTOCK, N.Y. — St. John Fisher University golfer Ben Fox didn’t panic when he made a double bogey on the first hole in Friday’s opening round of the Ulster County Men’s Amateur Golf Championship (the Herdegen) at Woodstock Golf Club.

Fox, who is a junior member at Woodstock, knew he had a lot of golf to rectify his poor start.

“I knew I liked playing this course and I play it just about every day,” the 18-year-old Fox said. “I knew that if I hit the shots I knew I could hit, eventually it would start to turn around. It turned around pretty quickly.”

Fox certainly did that as he finished with a 3-under 32 on the front on the way to posting a 2-under-par 68 to lead the Herdegen by three shots over former SUNY Ulster golf star Andre Manginelli, who fired a 1-over 71.

The second round of the 54-hole tournament will be held Saturday at Apple Greens Golf Course in Highland.

Fox had a sizzling stretch starting on the par-4 sixth hole with a chip-in for an eagle after he drove it over the green. He then reeled off birdies on the seventh, eighth and ninth holes. Fox was dialed in with his irons as none of the three birdie putts were longer than 12 feet.

Fox, a Saugerties High graduate, was named the Empire 8 Rookie of the Year in his freshman year at St. John Fisher. The golf team won its conference and went on to compete in the Division III national tournament.

Fox easily qualified for the June 3 Herdegen with a 2-over 72. He missed qualifying in his only previous attempt during his freshman year in high school. He had scheduling conflicts the last three years, so he didn’t try to qualify again until this year.

Fox has good feelings about playing Apple Greens Golf Course in Saturday’s second round. He won the Mid-Hudson Athletic League individual title at Apple Greens in his senior year at Saugerties.

“If I hit the ball like I did the last 17 holes today, I should be able to hold my own up there tomorrow,” he said.

Defending Herdegen champion Donte Groppuso of Wiltwyck Golf Club carded a 72 to trail Fox by four shots. Groppuso got off to a slow start on Friday with a front-nine 40, but the former Kingston High star salvaged the round with a 3-under 32 on the back.

Groppuso said he regrouped on the back by playing more aggressively.

“The back nine was really just me being tired of playing the course conservative,” Groppuso said. “I’m disappointed with the way I handled myself mentally on the front, but it happens. It’s all part of the game.”

A year ago, Groppuso fired a 2-under 69 in the second round at Apple Greens to get into contention for the Herdegen title. He’s hoping for the same result this year.

“I need to hit it a little better off the tee tomorrow,” he said. “Going to try my best but with a smile on my face this time.”

Wiltwyck’s Mike Hein, the former Ulster County executive, carded a 3-over 73. Three-time Herdegen champion Doug Kleeschulte Jr. of Wiltwyck had a 4-over 74 to remain in the hunt.

Friday’s results in the first round of the Herdegen at par-70 Woodstock Golf Club.

Ben Fox 32-36-68
Andre Manginelli 34-37-71
Donte Groppuso 40-32-72
Mike Hein 36-37-73
Doug Kleeschulte Jr. 35-39-74
Jared Miller 36-39-75
John Hornbeck 35-40-75
Oliver Watson 39-37-76
Scott Kozak 38-38-76
Joey Manginelli 38-38-76
Vlad Olenski 38-38-76
Brian Williams 38-38-76
Tony Batista 37-39-76
David Gil 40-37-77
Loyal Goodermote 39-38-77
Joey Redmond 38-39-77
Liam Allred 40-37-77
Bill Collins 41-37-78

Chris Grady 39-39-78
Kyle Hilliard 40-38-78
Adam Paddock 41-38-79
Zack Murphy 40-39-79
Nick Baker 39-40-79
Dylan Galm 42-37-79
Kevin Mackey 41-38-79
John Paulsen 39-40-79
Dan Gil 43-37-80
Scott Via 41-39-80
Ryan LaConture 41-39-80
Mike Beck Jr. 43-37-80
Rob Every 39-41-80
Padraic Bradley 40-41-81
Brandon Kraft 40-41-81
Ricardo Lavarreda 39-42-81
Kyle Petramale 39-43-82
Mike Brabham 39-43-82
Johnny Garcia 43-40-83
Eric Watson 38-45-83

Riley Gogg 44-39-83
Paul Larios 40-43-83
Ryan Johnson 41-43-84
Anthony Umhey 44-40-84
Duane Postupack 42-43-85
Jesse Cazakoff 46-40-86
Martin Pennington 47-39-86
John Lowe Jr. 45-42-87
Daniel McDonough 44-43-87
Arthur Higby 43-44-87
Jerry Maier 48-40-88
Koltin Pickell 44-44-88
Chris Pena 39-50-89
John Lucarelli 45-45-90
Hokai Liv 44-46-90
Eric Paddock 47-46-93
Adam Williams 43-50-93
Kevin Montanye 47-49-96

Photos: Herdegen’s first round, Friday, June 23, 2023