WILMINGTON — Michael Chanaud got off to a great start in his bid to win a second straight Delaware Open golf title on Monday.

But he’s hardly the only player who carded a low score as the 59th annual tournament got started at Fieldstone Golf Club (par 71, 6,570 yards).
Chanaud’s seven-under par 64 puts him at the top of a leaderboard in which the first 11 players all shot under par.

The tourney concludes today with 36 holes to determine the champion in a field where 38 players made the cut at five-over par 76.

Former Wesley College standout Zac Oakley, a two-time Delaware Open champion, is in second place with a 65. .

The 42-year-old Oakley is an assistant teaching professional at Bidermann Golf Club.His dad, Pete, was a six-time winner of the tournament.

Fieldstone’s Joseph Tigani is in third place with a 66.

Zac Oakley won the Delawre Open in both 2015 and 2021. DSGA PHOTO.

The 30-year-old Chanaud lives in Ocean View and is an assistant professional at The Peninsula Golf & Country Club. He finished with 10 birdies.

“I wasn’t really trying to push the envelope a whole lot here because I know it’s a fairly difficult golf course,” Chanaud was quoted in a story in DSGA.com,

“I know there are holes you have to take advantage of and others where you have to hold on. I never thought I would shoot seven under after being two over through three holes. I knew I had time. I didn’t want to press.”

Chanaud is trying to win the Open in back-to-back years. The other golfers to accomplish the feat are Richard Osberg (1974-77), Pete Oakley (1986-87), Joey Maxon (1998-99) and Chris Anderson (2003-04).

Zac Oakley’s other titles came in 2015 and 2022. Only Pete Oakley, Osberg and Anderson won the Open three times.

Zac Oakley didn’t have any bogeys in Monday’s round.

“Tomorrow for me will be all about staying relaxed,” Oakley was quoted. “Once you get in the first round, then I will be able to determine a better leaderboard game plan to see if I need to be aggressive or not.

“My tempo and rhythm today was great and it was consistent throughout the whole round. That’s difficult to do for the entire round.”

College field hockey

Hens picked to finish 5th: The Delaware field hockey team was voted fifth in its final Coastal Athletic Association coaches poll released on Monday.

Monmouth was picked to win the league with three first-place votes.

For the Blue Hens, senior Genevieve Johnson was named to the Preseason All-CAA team while Noelle Sabbagh (Cape Henlopen) and Rachael Whitehead received honorable mention. Sabbagh’s four goals were the third most for the Hens and her nine points were good for fourth.

She was named All-CAA second team in 2023 and was a CAA All-Freshman team member in 2022.

Delaware opens the season on Sept. 1 at Lafayette.