ARDMORE, Pa.--USC Aiken senior Dane Burkhart and freshman Matt Giftos opened play on Monday in the 105th United States Amateur in the greater Philadelphia area. After the first of two stroke play rounds, which will narrow the field from 312 to 64 golfers, Giftos is tied for 44th while Burkhart is tied for 125th. After the field is cut to 64 following Tuesday’s round, the match play portion of the event will begin.

Out of 7,320 entries to the United States Golf Association (USGA) with a 2.4 handicap or better, only 312 golfers made the cut after 36 holes of sectional qualifying in late July.

Historic Merion Golf Club in Ardmore, Pa. is serving as the host for what was once considered one of golf’s major championships. Merion has hosted 16 USGA championships, more than any other club, including four US Opens and five US Amateurs.

Stroke play was contested on two courses today, Merion (6,846 yards, par 70) and at the Philadelphia Country Club (6,967 yards, par 70). Both Burkhart and Giftos played the Philadelphia Country Club today and will take aim at Merion tomorrow.

Giftos, rated 18th in the United States by the Golfweek Junior Rankings, carded nine-straight pars to open his impressive round of two-over-par 72 and sit in 44th place. Only seven golfers in the field managed to break par on Monday led by Charlie Beljan’s six-under-par 64.

Starting on the first tee, Giftos pared every hole on the front side. After making the turn, a birdie on the 437-yard par four 10th got the Nashua, N.H. native into red figures. He then doubled the par three 11th hole only to move back to even with a birdie at the 580-yard par five 12th. Giftos bogeyed 15 and 16 before closing his round with two more pars.

Burkhart, coming off a win at the Palmetto Amateur two weeks ago that was capped by a dramatic 59 in Sunday’s final round, fired an opening round 75 to sit in a tie for 125th, still very much within striking distance of the magical number of 64.

The reigning Division II Player of the Year and 2005 NCAA D-II Individual Champion began his round on the 10th tee and opened with back-to-back bogeys on 11 and 12. He birdied the par four 14th, but then a bogey on 15 and a double on 17 had the Aiken native at four-over-par at the turn. Three birdies and four bogeys characterized an eventful back nine. Burkhart did finish on a good note with a pair of birdies on the par four eighth and ninth holes to pick up two key strokes.

Burkhart will tee off on Tuesday at the first tee of Merion Golf Club at 1:47 PM. Giftos will start his second round, also at Merion, on the 10th tee at 1:58 PM.