Southbury's Pelletier leads after first day of Danbury Amateur

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DANBURY -- Sam Pelletier knows the Danbury Amateur isn't the "most prestigious tournament out there," but to him, it's probably the most special.

Pelletier was just 12 years old when his father, Tom Pelletier, passed away from cancer. Tom was the course superintendent at Richter Park, which annually hosts the Danbury Amateur, from 1987-2001.

"I'd go and ride around in the golf cart with my dad and we'd do the father-son tournament, but I didn't really get into golf until after he died," Sam said.

If he were around today, Tom would be awfully proud.

Sam Pelletier, seeded 12th in the men's championship flight qualifier, sits atop the leaderboard with a 72 through the first 18 holes of the 21st annual Danbury Amateur. He heads into today's final round with a one-stroke advantage over Luke Feehan, Howie Busse, Evan Kenagy and Jeffrey Reisel.

"To win, that would be very special for me," said Pelletier, a graduate of Pomperaug High and Central Connecticut State. "It's definitely something I have on my bucket list. I have always wanted to win the Danbury Amateur."

If he's able to do so, he'll have to fend off the upset bids of Kenagy and Reisel, who were handicapped 35th and 36th out of the 50 golfers in the championship flight qualifier. And last year's champion, Mike Miller of Brewster, is within striking distance, as well.

Miller, who graduated from Brewster High in 2010 and played one semester at Penn State (he is actively looking to transfer because he did not "see eye to eye" with the coach), shot a 76 on Saturday.

"I'm right in it, but it's frustrating coming into the last hole even par and make quad," Miller said. "Everything kind of folded on 18. I hit it right where I wanted to, just too far. And then I hit my tee shot right into the trees, you know, it's a hazard right there."

"It's relieving that I didn't shoot myself in the foot too bad," he continued. "I have to make up some ground, so we'll see."

In the ladies championship flight, Jen Holland, the six-time defending champion, finds herself in unfamiliar territory: second place. Holland shot an 81 on Saturday, which puts her two strokes behind Laurie White heading into the final 18 holes.

"My plan is to get a later tee time tomorrow," Holland said with a laugh. "When you live an hour away, 7 a.m. is pretty early. So, the later tee time will help, but I need to make some puts tomorrow."

White, who has played in the tournament "every year that Jen has won," wasn't overly excited about the chance to dethrone Holland.

"It's not that big of a deal," said White, a native of Carmel, N.Y. "I'm just going out and playing some golf."

Aside from Pelletier and Miller, another local youngster -- Rima Antous of Danbury High -- ranks high on the leaderboard after day one. Antous, who is entering her senior year of high school, shot an 87 to lead the ladies first flight.

"I was hoping for low 80s -- it was kind of rough out there," she said. "This is more competitive than high school. I don't really know any of my competitors here like I do with the high school teams."

Pelletier's high school teammate at Pomperaug, Nick Taylor, is in a six-way tie for the top spot in men's first flight with an 81. James Pawlik (79) is ahead in the senior flight and William Darling leads the men's third flight with a 76.