Norwich — Their car is packed and ready to leave for a Cape Cod vacation.

Cindy and Paul DeLucia are just waiting to see what happens in the 89th Norwich Invitational. More specifically, they're sticking around as long as their son Chris is still alive in the field.

If Chris continues to play as well as he did in Friday's qualifying round, his parents will have to delay their trip a few more days.

DeLucia fired a 6-under-par 65 to earn medalist honors and the top seed in the championship flight. Match play begins today and ends Sunday with a champion being crowned.

"I played really well," DeLucia said. "I hit 15 greens out of the 18. I got off to a slow start. I was only 1-under through 10 holes, but then I had a really good back nine."

DeLucia had a terrific final eight holes, ringing up four birdies and an eagle.

The par-5, 12th hole served as a launching pad. Using a hybrid, he hit his second shot to within 20 feet of the pin and then buried the eagle putt. He birdied 13, 15 and 17.

If not for his only bogey on the final hole, his score would have tied the Norwich Invite record for low round.

"It's a little disappointing finishing with a bogey," DeLucia said. "But overall it was a really good round. That was my lowest tournament round."

DeLucia, 26, is a Norwich Invite tournament veteran, making his debut as a 14-year-old. A seven-time Norwich club champion, he basically could walk the course blindfolded and still find his way back to the clubhouse. The former St. Bernard School and UConn golfer once shot a 63.

"Every time Thursday night you still feel the same excitement and nerves as the first time I've played in this tournament," DeLucia said. "It's a good feeling, though. It's my favorite weekend of the year."

DeLucia, who's been medalist once before, is still chasing his first Invite title. He's reached the semifinals three times.

"This tournament draws the best (amateur) players in Eastern Connecticut and the state," DeLucia said. "It's a great field. Everyone starts fresh (Saturday). Anyone can beat anybody in the championship flight. There's 16 guys that can win the tournament.

"You have to try to hopefully get a little lucky and play well and maybe it's your year. I'd love to win it, but you have to just do the best you can."

The DeLucia family had another reason to celebrate Friday. It was Paul's birthday.

Paul served as his son's caddie.

"It's always a joy to watch the way he plays the game," Paul said. "He makes it look very easy."

Paul hadn't planned to serve as caddie. He prefers to stay in the background.

But when Chris extended the invitation, Paul gladly accepted.

"If he invites me out there like he did today, then I'll do it," Paul said. "Otherwise, I just kind of let him do his own thing."

The family will be back watching Chris today. He received a tough draw in his first match, facing five-time champion Phil Perry.

Paul will hand over the caddie duties to Chris' cousin, who's visiting from Florida.

The DeLucia family is hoping to be back on Sunday, too. Cape Cod can wait.

g.keefe@theday.com

Twitter: @GavinKeefe