Palmerton’s Joe Solt and Tamaqua’s Sam Vinc both experienced a day on the links at the opposite ends of the golf spectrum Monday afternoon.

In any golf tournament, a few strokes can form two different scenarios.

For Solt, it was a bright day that played as picture perfect as the weather. On the other hand for Vinc, it played as a typical, gray, overcast one.

Yet, they were separated by two strokes.

The local duo played in the opening round of the PIAA Class 2A state championships on Penn State’s Blue course at State College. They will both compete in the final round today.

Solt fired a 3-over 75 that placed him tied with seven other golfers for 15th, while Vinc shot a 5-over 77, which left him tied with seven other golfers for 29th place.

It was a tight, opening day leaderboard that featured co-leaders and the top 15 golfers separated by six strokes.

Ironically, both of them had some butterflies in their stomachs at the start.

“I was a little nervous at the start,” recalled Solt, who had a fourth-place finish at districts. “I had some bogeys at the start, but then I settled down.”

Solt, who is making his first trip to the state tournament, collected birdies on the 18th and the first hole, and gained momentum down the stretch.

The junior then recorded five pars to keep him in contention.

“I felt like I played a really solid round of golf,” reflected Solt. “I hit all the shoes that I needed to. I thought I played solid all-around.”

Palmerton head golf coach Alex Knoll was proud of Solt’s performance.

“He played a very solid round of golf,” beamed Knoll. “He is only two strokes out of the top five. He was very consistent. I’m looking forward to seeing what he can do tomorrow.”

Solt had played on the course in the past, and that helped him make a quick adjustment.

“Playing here before made it easier,” added Solt. “It did play to my strengths. My driver was on point, and I hit a lot of fairways. My irons also were really good today.

“I did as well as I could, and I am looking forward to tomorrow.”

Vinc, who won the District 11 title with a 76, made a return trip to the state tourney. He finished with three birdies, six bogeys, and a double-bogey.

He had trouble throughout the day and couldn’t find his rhythm.

“I felt shaky all around,” recalled Vinc. “I lost some confidence off the tee today. “I felt like I was able to scramble and stay in the top half of the field.”

However, there were bright spots among the shadows that plagued him.

“My game was the most calm on the greens,” said Vinc. “My putting was solid overall. I struggled on hole five and took the drop, chunked it twice in a row around the green.

“My best hole was definitely hole three. I smoked a drive and ultimately cut the corner creating a short shot in, and I rolled it in from just off the green.”

Like Solt, Vinc was familiar with the course. But it produced a different outcome for him.

“I think the course played tricky today,” said Vinc. “Some holes featured trouble along the sides and most of the fairways were tight. This didn’t help my driver, which was going left and right today.”

Still, Vinc is anxious for the final round.

“I’m looking forward to tomorrow and hopefully improving,” he said.

CHIPS AND PUTTS ... Vinc finished 23rd at the tournament last year ... Cole Powell of Scranton Prep, and Ben Allwein of Annville-Cleona, were both tied for the lead with a 3-under 69. Schuylkill Haven’s Alan Evans is tied for sixth with a one-over 73 ... Saucon Valley’s Anthony Albano was the highest District 11 finisher in the 3A bracket on the White course with an even-par 72, good for a 12th-place tie ... Today’s weather at State College is expected to be a sunny day with a high of 68.