A field of 157 players from 31 states and five countries began play in the 108th North and South Men's Amateur Championship today. Qualifying stroke play rounds will be held today and Tuesday, with players vying for 63 match play spots on Pinehurst Nos. 2 and 4.

Defending champion Phillip Mollica of Anderson, S.C., will assume the No. 1 seed entering match play Wednesday.

Kyle Stanley of Gig Harbor., Wash., ranked No. 2, and Jamie Lovemark of Rancho Santa Fe, Calif., ranked fourth in the Golfweek ratings system, top the star-studded field. Stanley and Mollica are both members of the acclaimed Clemson University team.

Several local players are also entered, including 18-year-old Jack Fields, who attracted national media attention two weeks ago with a record-shattering win in the North Carolina Amateur Championship held at Raleigh Country Club, another Donald Ross layout. Fields shot a final round 63 to rally from seven strokes back and win the title.

Other locals include: Robert Riesen, of Pinehurst, who won a local qualifier with a 67. Riesen, who plays on the University of North Carolina team, played in the 2005 U.S. Amateur; Kelly Miller, president of Pine Needles Lodge and Golf Club; Michael McGowan, son of former PGA player Pat McGowan and a two-time U.S. Amateur qualifier; Robert Hoadley, of Southern Pines, who was a member of the All-Carolinas Juniors team; Eddie Peckel, of Southern Pines, a former U.S. Amateur participant.

Play continues through Sunday's 36-hole final. The event is open to spectators free of charge.

Check back for tournament updates and scores.

The complete field, schedule, daily pairing and results can be found at www.pinehurst.com/north-and-south-mens.asp.