Chris Housen Shots 70, Leads Pre-senior By One Stroke

Chris Housen of Mansquan River carded five birdies and settled for a two-under-par 70 to lead by one stroke after the first round of the two-day, 36-hole 58th NJSGA Pre-Senior Championship at 6,400-yard New Jersey National Golf Club in Basking Ridge.

The Pre-Senior Championship is for players ages 45 through 54 with a handicap of 12.0 or below.

Housen, whose card added three bogeys including his final hole, No. 9, was one stroke in front of defending champion Nick Desai of Balturol, 2015 Public Links champion Peter Kozubal of Fox Hollow, Dan Gregory of Panther Valley and 2013 runner-up Michael Guli of Essex County.

The low 40 scorers and ties from the field of 98 players advanced to Wednesday’s 18-hole final round

LEADERBOARD ROUND 2 STARTING TIMES PHOTO GALLERY

“I’ve never played the course before. I just felt comfortable on the tee box, taking in all the beautiful scenery,” said Housen, 51, who last month won the club championship at Metedeconk National. He has also won seven club championships at Manasquan River.

He won the NJSGA Tournament of Club Champions in 2006 as well as the 2011 NJSGA Father and Son Championship with dad Bob, who has won six State Amateur Championships.

Housen’s most memorable shot occurred on the par-4, 269-yard No. 16. He drove the green and collected a birdie.

“I just want to come out tomorrow and continue to have a good time. You have to keep the ball below the hole,” he said.

Due to a change in scheduling of the event from spring to fall, Desai maintained his title for nearly a year-and-a-half.

“Of course, I was looking forward to defend. I’ve never seen the course so I didn’t know what to expect. I was above the pin four times and three-putted all four times,” said Desai, 49.

Desai had his card down to four-under par after a birdie on the par-3 No. 4, his 13thhole. There, he placed his tee shot to within three inches of the cup in search of his fifth ace. He carded bogeys on Nos. 5, 6 and 8.

“It’s been a quiet summer for me. Two days ago, I lost to Gregg Angelillo, 2 and 1, for the Baltusrol club championship. I’d like to get another W on my card,” he said.

Desai was leading the State Amateur at Montammy in June after two rounds, but settled for T-13. He was 10thin 2014.