OAKLAND – Seth Sweet of Madison watched last year as his dad, Dan, caddied for a friend at a Maine Amateur Golf Championship qualifier.

“[Seth] said he wanted to play in the qualifier next year,” said Dan Sweet. “I thought he would lose interest over the winter, but he nailed me with it again.

“I thought he would get a great experience out of it, and he did the rest.”

What he did was shoot well enough in the qualifier at Biddeford-Saco Country Club in Biddeford to make this week’s Amateur field.

Please note: Seth is 12.

He may be the youngest person to qualify for the Maine Amateur in the 88 editions of the tournament since the first one was held in 1918.

Seth shot a 10-over-par 80 in Tuesday’s opening round, 11 strokes off the lead and facing the possibility of not making the cut after today’s round for Thursday’s 18-hole finish.

Although he’s only 12, he is a tournament veteran. This is just a bigger step up for him.

“I started when I was 2, with plastic clubs,” said Seth. “I started playing tournaments when I was 7.”

The tournaments were part of the Maine State Golf Association’s junior program. Seth won the 12-and-under championship last year. He noticed at the qualifier and here that there is a big difference.

“This is a lot bigger, more exciting,” he said, and it’s also more nerve-wracking.

“I was nervous until about the fourth hole,” he said, but he also noted, “I wasn’t nervous until I got on the [first] tee.”

What he found, at both the qualifier and here, was that the tournament courses are a lot longer than the junior ones.

Fortunately for him, he’s used to it because he plays from the back tees at Lakewood Country Club, which are close to 6,900 yards.

“I always play the back tees,” said Seth, adding that he has been doing that since he was 10.

Considering his age (he turns 13 on July 25), he has plenty of free time to play golf.

And he does.

“He goes over in the morning and comes back at suppertime,” said his mother, Kim.

The whole family, which includes 15-year-old Zack, started playing golf 10 years ago.

“We all picked it up at the same time,” said Kim.

And, Dan pointed out, “Rather than find a babysitter, we took ’em with us.”

Seth’s progress has been steady since then.

“It just started taking off with him in increments,” said Kim.

And he’s basically self-taught.

“He has never had a coach,” said Dan. “Everything’s natural for him.”

As for the sharpest part of his game, Seth said, “Probably putting. It didn’t show today, but it probably is.”

Seth’s demeanor on the course is good, according to Dan.

“When he hits a bad shot, he gets upset with himself, then he reels it back in and just plays,” said Dan.

His play after this event will be the junior championships again Aug. 7-9, then school golf in the fall.

“Madison just started a junior high team,” he said.

He may be the most tournament-savvy eighth-grader by then.

“He just keeps getting better and more focused,” said Kim.

McGee suffers disqualification

Ross McGee of Fairfield was disqualified Tuesday when he signed for a lower score than he actually had.

On the last hole, his tee shot went left almost to the practice range tees. His second shot hit a tree and dropped down, he knocked his third shot close, and putted it in for par.

Unfortunately, his marker didn’t see the second shot and thought McGee made birdie, so he marked a 3 on McGee’s scorecard.

McGee missed the error when he was checking over his card after the round, so it was posted that way.

When an even-par 70 went up on the scoreboard, McGee knew something wasn’t right and checked with Waterville head pro Don Roberts. That’s when the error was discovered and he was disqualified.

If a player signs for a higher score than he shot, then he keeps the higher score and can keep playing. The higher score counts as his penalty.

Fathers and sons

There are two father-son sets playing in this year’s Amateur.

John Hayes III and John Hayes IV are playing out of Purpoodock Club in Cape Elizabeth.

The father shot 79, while the son posted a 74.

The other combo is Arthur Batson Jr. and Arthur Batson III out of Portland Country Club in Falmouth Foreside.

The elder Batson shot 84, while the younger had an 82.