BEDFORD, N.H. – Blake Eldridge of the Springbrook Golf Club in Leeds and Biddeford-Saco Country Club’s Scott Dewitt sit in a tie for 21st place after Tuesday’s first round at the 73rd New England Amateur Championship at Manchester Country Club.

Eldridge shot a 33-39-72 while Dewitt had a 36-36-72. Joe Alvarez (37-36-73) of the Penobscot Valley Country Club is tied for 33rd. Ricky Jones of the Rockland Golf Club is tied for 55th.

Play continues Wednesday before the field is cut to the low 40 players and ties for the 36-hole conclusion on Thursday.

Rob Oppenheim, the 2002 Massachusetts Amateur champ, and Dustin Cone of Vermont both posted rounds of 3-under-par 67 to share the first- round lead.

MAINE SCORES

21. (tie) Blake Eldridge (Springbrook) 33-39-72 and Scott Dewitt (Biddeford-Saco) 36-36-72; 33. (tie) Samuel Marzenell (Biddeford-Saco) 36-37-73 and Joseph Alvarez (Penobscot Valley) 37-36-73; 42. (tie) Michael Nowak (Augusta) 37-37-74, Ben Daughan (York) 38-36-74, Scott Stone (Val Halla) 38-36-74; 55. (tie) Ricky Jones (Rockland) 37-38-75, Gary Manoogian (Falmouth) 38-37-75; 97. (tie) Dale Bragg (Falmouth) 39-39-78; 110. (tie) Thomas Bean (Tri-City) 40-39-79, Colin Read (Samoset) 39-40-79, Bob Adam (Ledges) 39-40-79, Adam Smith (Kebo Valley) 42-37-79; 122. (tie) Garret Copp (Summit) 40-40-80; 131. (tie) Ryan Day (Bar Harbor) 43-38-81; 141. (tie) Seth Goodall (Kennebec Heights) 41-41-82, Ron York (Brunswick) 40-42-82; 153. (tie) Jeff Wass (Rockland) 45-39-84