MANCHESTER — There weren’t many surprises during the first round of the Maine State Golf Association’s Match Play Invitational. Only two of the 16 matches were won by the lower-seeded player. There also wasn’t much suspense during the opening round, as just one of the 16 matches made it 18 holes, and nine matches were decided in 15 holes or fewer.

“That’s to be expected, a little,” said Augusta’s Jason Gall, who advanced with a 5 and 3 win over Andrew Campbell. “It’ll get tighter as things go.”

The tournament continues at the Augusta Country Club with two more rounds today. The second round begins at 8 a.m., with the quarterfinals to begin at approximately noon.

Pittston’s Ryan Gay, the winner of the past two Maine Amateur titles, got the day started with a 6 and 5 win over Kyle Bourassa. Playing on his home course, Gay, the top seed in the tournament, won holes 11 and 12 to go four up, and on 12, Gay two-putted for birdie. Gay’s birdie on 13 clinched the win.

“I hit into the trees on one, but other than that, I played well,” Gay said.

One of the day’s upsets belonged to No. 17 Chris Hamel, a Waterville native who plays out of Natanis. Hamel picked up birdies on holes one, three, five and nine to build a lead over No. 16 Curtis Jordan, and his par on 14 sealed the win.

“I was in control early,” said Hamel, a senior at Husson University.

In 2006, Gay, Hamel and David Gushee tied for the Class A individual high school golf state championship. Gay and Hamel will face each other in the second round.

“We played in high school a lot,” Hamel said of Gay. “You always want to play (against) the best.”

Added Gay: “(Hamel) hits it really straight. He’ll give himself looks for birdies.”

Gushee, a Gorham native, took a 3 and 2 win over Nick Connor and will face defending champion Joe Alvarez of Penobscot Valley Country Club. Alvarez, the No. 10 seed, defeated Jack Wyman, 5 and 4.

A birdie on hole eight put Gall two up, but Gall didn’t feel comfortable for a few more holes.

“I didn’t feel I had it won until 13, when I birdied,” Gall said. “The greens are so nice. (Campbell) played great, too.”

Gall’s second-round opponent is Brian Bilodeau, who beat Erik Fitch, 7 and 6.

While many players generated low scores, one golfer who felt more like he survived was 13-time Maine Am winner Mark Plummer, who won his match with Chris King, 4 and 2.

“Neither one of us played great,” Plummer said. “I had an early lead, so I had a little bit of a cushion.”

After a bogey on hole eight, Plummer won hole nine for a strong finish to the front nine. On 16, Plummer sank a 50-foot putt for the win.

“It was the only putt I made all day,” he said.

Plummer will face Keith Patterson, a 3 and 2 winner over Joe Walp, in the second round.

The only match to go 18 holes was won by Matt Greenleaf, who beat Scott Sirois, 1-up. No. 22 Andrew Slattery was 2-up over nine holes against No. 11 Mike O’Brien and went on to take a 5 and 4 win.

Travis Lazarczyk — 861-9242

tlazarczyk@centralmaine.com

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