The state Amateur Championship golf tournament is underway at the Essex Fells Country Club, and a Morris County teenager is near the top of the leaderboard.

At just 14 years old, Liam Pasternak may be the youngest player in the field, but he says that he won’t let his age hold him back.

“It gives me motivation that I know I can play with these guys and it's cool,” he says. “It's just you and mentally you have to be stronger than everyone else.”

Pasternak, of Morristown, earned a special exemption into the State AM after winning his second straight New Jersey State Golf Association Championship last month.

“We felt that was a legitimate reason to giving that special exemption for him to be able to play today,’ says NJSGA Executive Director Kevin Purcell.

“I got it done. I was so excited afterward and then to hear the news of getting an exemption into the State AM was thrilling,” says Pasternak.

The teen says that he is taking advantage of his opportunity. Essex Fells is his home course, and he says that this gives him confidence. He is even par through the first two rounds of the tournament.

“It was great. I've got a good advantage over the field, like knowing where the greens and slopes are,” Pasternak says.

Pasternak will be a freshman at Morristown High School in the fall. He says that he has bigger plans beyond that.

“My end goal is to make the tour, but hopefully I can win this a few times too,” he says.

Pasternak will advance to Thursday's final round as part of the top 40 golfers to make the cut.