GRANBY — After 18 stellar holes Tuesday, James Imai didn’t realize he had made history at Westover Golf Club.

The Brookline native carded a 7-under-par 65, tying the Westover course record during Day 1 of the 40th Massachusetts Amateur Public Links Championship.

Imai’s 65 had him atop the leaderboard entering Wednesday’s second and final round of competition.

“It felt really easy,” Imai said. “I hit it well off the tee and when I missed [the fairway] I still had a way to advance it. It could have been better, which is always a good thing, and I’m looking forward to carrying it into [Wednesday].”

Imai — who is entering his junior season as a member of the Northwestern University golf team — didn’t enter Tuesday’s opening round with the intention of breaking the course record. He simply stuck to his game plan and played his game.

It worked out well. He finished with five birdies and added an eagle on the par-5 12th hole.

“I figured just make as many birdies as I can and see what it adds up to,” Imai said. “Thankfully I made some par saves when I needed to and took advantage of some chances when I had them.”

Imai enters Wednesday’s championship round with a three-stroke lead over Brookmeadow Country Club’s Bill Drohen and Pinehills Golf Club’s Christopher Boyd. He hopes to replicate his round on Tuesday to assure he’ll raise the trophy.

“It’s always nice being in contention,” Imai said. “[Wednesday] I need to do what I need to do and not worry about my score. I need to stick to my game plan and hit as many birdies as I can. I’d like to hit it closer. I’m looking forward to the challenge.”

Ledges Golf Club member Jim Morin said his driving was solid but he was unable to generate any momentum on the greens during his round Tuesday. 

Morin shot 7-over 79, just missing the cut to qualify for Wednesday’s championship round. 

“I made like six three-putts,” Morin said. “Other than that I played pretty good but the putting was tricky for me. You have to be able to cut the ball well here. A lot of times I had to lay up on some irons because I couldn’t hit it left to right. It’s a good course though, it’s a good challenge.”

Morin doesn’t take for granted the opportunity to play the state’s APL Championship. This was his second time playing in the event, and he said he enjoyed getting to play against some of the best amateurs the state has to offer. 

With the field full of players of different skill levels, sometimes you just have to get hot at the right time to score well in a tournament like this. 

“I qualified a couple years ago and played down in Plymouth,” Morin said. “It’s a good time. It’s a bunch of good guys and it’s always fun when you qualify for something. The competition is all over. There are some really good players here and some middle of the road players. That’s what’s good about it. To qualify, you have to have a 12 handicap or less so you get a smattering of people and you get lucky and play well and shoot a good number, you can place well.” 

Wyckoff Country Club member Jack Neves of Holyoke had an up-and-down day on Tuesday. The AIC athlete had some bright spots but ultimately shot 8-over 80, missing the cut by five shots.

“It went well,” Neves said of his day. “I started on one with a par and ended on a birdie. I played with some amazing players and there’s some really good players out here.” 

Two locals made the 5-over cut. Holyoke’s Joe Wilson punched his ticket to Wednesday’s final round thanks to a 1-over 73, good for 13th overall in the field. Joining him on Wednesday will be Ledges Golf Club member Douglas Hutcheson, who was 2-over. 

Locals John King (6-over), Brian Strzempek (6-over), Matthew Gurski (9-over), Ben Lovell (10-over) and Andrew Johnson (14-over) all missed the cut.