Old Lyme – Growing up, Phil Perry used to ride his bicycle roughly two miles from his house to Black Hall Club to work as a caddy.

Perry has fond memories of those long days spent from early morning to sunset at the course.

"It was fun, a lot of fun," Perry said. "There was like 20 of us down there. It was fantastic. That was the best."

Black Hall continues to be Perry's second home.

Only good friend and fellow member Bill Hermanson has won more Black Hall men's club championships than Perry, who owns eight titles.

And Perry might have added more if not for taking a long break from the sport.

"I joined in 1978 and then I didn't play golf for 17 years," Perry said. "I started playing again in '95. I got a boat and boated, that's all I did.

"Then my kids were born and the boat sat there for three years. I figured I'd better find something to do."

On Monday, Perry spent a rainy, windy day competing in the first round of stroke play qualifying in the 113th Connecticut Amateur Championship.

Perry, who now lives in East Lyme, has traditionally played well in one of the state's premier golf events. He's qualified for match play in seven of the last eight years, including reaching the semifinals in 2008 and quarterfinals last year.

His streak is in jeopardy heading into Tuesday's final round after shooting an 81 on Monday. The top 32 finishers will advance to Wednesday's match play.

"Might not make it this time," Perry said.

Blame it on a bit of bad luck.

Perry received a four-stroke penalty for having an extra club in his bag.

It was an honest mistake.

Perry found a women's golf club on the 18th hole during a practice round on Sunday and stuck it in his bag.

He discovered the extra club during his morning round, which started on the 10th hole.

"I forgot to take it out, so I got a four-shot penalty," Perry said.

So his first hole score went from a birdie to a bogey and his second hole from a par to double bogey.

"That hurts," Perry said. "I was trying to be nice and I didn't see it in my bag this morning because it was pouring so hard."

Perry was part of a parade of golfers who endured the challenging conditions on a soggy Monday. The tournament start was delayed by 90 minutes due to heavy rain.

The poor weather made life miserable. Golfers came armed with a survival gear – extra clothes, towels and umbrellas.

"Look at my hands," said Perry, showing his wrinkled, wet skin. "You can't hold a club. It makes it really hard. This morning it was pouring for a full three hours. ... They should have postponed it.

"Not a good move as far as I was concerned."

Scores on the first day reflected the conditions. Only defending champion Zach Zaback of TPC River Highlands, broke par, firing a 2-under 69. Kyle Roberts of Wethersfield Country Club is second at even-par 71.

Perry will be back at Black Hall on Tuesday, trying to bounce back from Monday's disappointing result. With his experience and course knowledge, he's capable of shooting an attention-grabbing score.

The course has changed since his caddying days. So has his mode of transportation.

His love of Black Hall remains the same, though.

"It's a great course," Perry said.

News and notes

• Several other local golfers are in the state amateur championship field. Here's how they scored: Hermanson, Black Hall, 77; David Kraus, Mohegan Sun CC at Pautipaug, 78; Michael Masso, Nick Torrance, Lake of Isles, 78; Steve Chevalier, Lake of Isles, 81; Josh Cameron, Shennecossett Golf Course, 84; Tony Susi, Mohegan Sun CC, 84; Ed Hilario, Norwich, 84; and Scott Farrell, Black Hall, 85.

"It was hard," Susi said. "I look forward to this tournament so much. I love playing here. It's too bad. But everybody had to play in it."

g.keefe@theday.com

Twitter: @GavinKeefe