SEEKONK _ Davis Chatfield feels like the defending champion in the 113th RIGA Amateur Championship that began Monday at Ledgemont. He knows full well that he is not - Billy Forcier is - but it is understandable why he thinks like that.

         “I do feel that way. I guess it’s a little weird,’’ Chatfield said after taking the first-day lead with a 4-under-par 67. “Billy is obviously the defending champion but I still feel like I am, so whatever.’’

         The confusion comes in because Chatfield became one of the youngest champions in tournament history two years ago when he won at Point Judith against Kevin Silva in one of the best finals ever, the first to be extended to a 37th hole.

        Last year, Chatfield was ready to defend but was injured lifting weights just before the event began, so he had to withdraw. Chatfield went on to have an excellent freshman year at Notre Dame and already has had a terrific summer. His work has included posting the lowest score ever by an RIGA player in the Northeast Amateur at Wannamoisett in that event’s 57-year history.

         He had two early birds on Monday (1, 3) but then bogeyed each of the par-3s on the front side, the fourth after nearly hitting into a hazard and the sixth when he three-putted from 15 feet.

      “That didn’t feel good,’’ he said of the three putt, “but I knew going into the back nine I could get something going. I was hitting the ball well and putting it on my line.’’

        He did not wait until the back side. He got back in red numbers with a bird on the par-5 eighth and got it to 2-under with another bird on the par-4 13th.

        The finishing stretch at Ledgemont is viewed by many as the most difficult on any RIGA course. Each of the last three holes are long par 4s, up, then down and finally back up again on twisting fairways. Chatfield parred 16 then broke his own rule on the last two holes.

       “I would agree,’’ he said of the difficulty rating on the finishing stretch. “You definitely have to hit your ball in the fairway. I didn’t do that on last two holes. I made pretty crazy birdies. I’m happy I could get two more.

        “On 17 I hit it I the middle of the trees on the right.  I couldn’t see the flag, but I chipped a four iron under the trees. It just got over the hazard and ran up to the green, about 25 feet and I made it. Then on 18, I drove into the right bunker. I kind of clipped a branch on my second shot.’’  But the ball kept flying and ended up eight feet below the hole. He made that one to complete his 67.

       Ledgemont presented a tough test for most in the field as scoring was higher than usual. Only three players shot in the 60s. Matt Broome, returning home for one of the few times in the past decade, was second at 68.

        Broome, who grew up at Rhode Island Country Club and won the New England Amateur in 2008, now lives in Florida and represents PGA Tour players, including Webb Simpson. He told his younger brother, Brad, that he would return home to compete in the tournament if his brother qualified. His brother did just that.

         “I had enough points from what I did in the USA Mid-Am last year, so I came back,’’ Matt Broome said. He was happy with his 68, but equally happy with the 74 his brother posted to put both in position to be among the top 32 to qualify for match play after Tuesday’s second round.

       Tyler Cooke, the former Stroke Play champ as well as two-time winner of the Four-Ball with Bobby Leopold, was the only other player in the 60s, with a 69.

      “I played well,’’ he said. “I hit it pretty well and I made some putts. I’m happy.’’    

       Defending champion Forcier put himself in good position with an even-par 71 that included five birdies. A number of other former winners put themselves in good position to advance to match play. Leopold had a 71 as did four-time winner Brad Valois. Tom McCormick posted a 72 and three-time champ Mike Soucy a 73.