60th Delaware Open: Round 1

Barbin out front; Three past champions chasing

SELBYVILLE, Del. – At this time last year, Austin Barbin was playing some of his best golf. He won the BMW Philadelphia Amateur Championship.

| Scoring Portal | History | Round 1 Video | Photo Gallery |

Fast forward 14 months later, Barbin’s life has completely changed. He turned professional in September 2024, got married in June to his wife Kasey at Chesapeake Bay Golf Club and bought a house.

Barbin, aided by a steely putter and an ironclad strategy, seized the Round 1 lead of the 60th Delaware Open Monday at Bayside Resort Golf Club (par 72, 7,012 yards) after a 67.

“My life is quite different from when it was last year at this time,” Barbin said. “I got married, but my golf game has really been solid all year and consistent. I’ve been playing a ton of the Philadelphia PGA Section events. I have no complaints with the changes in my life. It has been awesome.”

A trio of past champions and assistant professionals are on his heels. Two-time champion Zac Oakley (2015, 2022), out of Bidermann Golf Club, carded a 67. Braden Shattuck (2018, 2021) of Rolling Green Golf Club and Michael Chanaud of Bear Trap Dunes (2023) fired 68s.

A total of 39 players made the cut. The cutline fell at 78.

Defending champion Ryan Rucinski of Wilmington Country Club sits in a tie for 23rd after a 77.

“It’s been more than a decade since I played here in a Philadelphia Junior Tour event,” Barbin, 24, of Elkton, Md., said. “I didn’t remember the course at all. I came here yesterday and it is a completely different golf course. Bayside is so difficult. You can’t lose focus at all. I think I lost 15 golf balls in my practice round. I was trying to hit different clubs off the tee. I was trying to zone in on a gameplan. You can’t hit any foul balls out there.”

Two bad swings led to Barbin’s two bogeys. He carded seven birdies to get to his magic number.

The Barbin birdie barrage took off with a birdie on No. 2 (par 5. 549 yards) with a 60-degree wedge from 94 yards to 20 feet. He darted a 9-iron from 175 yards to 20 feet on No. 4 (par 4, 416 yards).

A floated a 50-degree wedge to 25 feet on No. 7 (par 3, 137 yards) helped him turn in 3 under. His back nine mixed four birdies with those two bogeys. Highlighted by a trifecta on Nos. 13 (par 3, 155 yards), 14 (par 5, 556 yards) and 15 (par 3, 180 yards).

He hit a pitching wedge to two feet on No. 13, made a simple up and in greenside on No. 14 and lasered an 8-iron to gimme range on No. 15. He canned a 30-footer on No. 17 (par 4, 375 yards) to get to 5 under.

Barbin is getting a taste of the working life while pursuing golf. Trying to get the most out of his golf game while working 40-50 hours a week at Chesapeake Bay. 

“I’ve been trying to find a good balance between playing, practicing and working at the club,” Barbin said. “Working at the club has been a good transition. I am super blessed to have my family’s support to get into a position where I can go and chase my dream of playing professional golf.

“The biggest challenge I have found is trying to break up my practice sessions and not overdo it. I’ve been trying my best to balance that routine between working and finding time to play my best golf.”

Barbin is looking to become the third player to win the Delaware Open and the Philadelphia Amateur. Justin Martinson and Chris Anderson are the other two. A 36-hole marathon day awaits. 

“I am used to 36-hole days from college golf at Liberty,” Barbin said. “It is a test and you have to have the stamina. You have to focus as much as you can and relax in between shots. You always need to take your mind off golf. I want to try to avoid mental fatigue.

“The professionals in the area are so good. Everyone is going to keep going low. Shooting even par is not going to be good. I need to keep the pedal to the metal. Two more rounds to go. It’ll be a fun test. I am excited.”

NOTE: Chanaud aced No. 15 with a 4-iron. It is his first ace in competition and fifth total.

GAP
Celebrating Amateur Golf since 1897, GAP, also known as the Golf Association of Philadelphia, is the oldest regional or state golf association in the United States. It serves as the principal ruling body of amateur golf in its region. The organization’s 345 Member Clubs and 130,000 individual members are spread across Pennsylvania, Delaware, New Jersey and Maryland. The GAP’s mission is to promote, preserve and protect the game of golf.