Sellers Leads Through Suspended First Round at 106th New Jersey Open Championship
MORRISTOWN, N.J. – Hosting the New Jersey Open Championship for the first time since 1984, Morris County Golf Club provided a classic test at 6,516 yards before dangerous weather suspended the opening round of the 106th New Jersey Open Championship presented by Donnelly Industries.
When play was halted for the day, Rhett Sellers, the 24-year-old assistant professional at Plainfield Country Club, held the clubhouse lead after posting a 5-under-par 65.
Sellers has recorded back-to-back top-10 finishes in the New Jersey Open, tying for sixth in 2024 and tying for seventh in 2025.
Playing through periods of heavy and light rain, Sellers got off to a blistering start, reaching 5-under par through his opening four holes. His round was highlighted by an eagle on the par-5 second hole, and he remained steady throughout the challenging conditions before finishing with a birdie on his final hole.
“I got off to a great hot start,” Sellers said. “Everything was going my way. I just kind of steadied the ship throughout the rain and the winds and finished with a nice birdie on the last to finish with a great round.”
Two-time New Jersey Open champion Frank Esposito Jr. (1999, 2013) sits among the group at 2-under-par 68 after carding four birdies in his opening round.
“My yardages with my irons were pretty good and I putted OK,” Esposito said. “I’m not doing anything ridiculous, but it was just solid golf.”
Esposito, 63, is one of just four players in this year's field who also competed the last time Morris County Golf Club hosted the championship in 1984.
“It’s golf, things happen. You gotta go with the flow and hang in with the young whippersnappers.”
Play was suspended at 2:20 p.m. due to dangerous weather in the area. Following a delay of approximately 1 hour and 40 minutes, play was called for the day because of continued dangerous weather.
The first round will resume Wednesday at 8 a.m., with the practice range opening at 6:45 a.m. Second-round play will begin following the completion of the opening round.
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