No one gets more love than a hometown kid.

While the biggest names in golf are on full display all weekend long in Cromwell for the Travelers Championship, a strong contingent of local fans are only there to see Milford's Ben James.

“For me, he’s just a high school buddy... I met him in middle school, James' longtime friend Caden Quirk says. "Realistically, he’s just a kid we used to hang out with, but nowadays, he’s on the Tour. This is his dream."

Playing in his third Travelers Championship, the Connecticut native fired a two-under 68 in Thursday's first round.

James racked up three birdies on the front nine, and stepped to the tee on the 17th hole sitting at four strokes under par.

The 23 year-old battled through adversity on the final two holes, saving two bogeys to finish at two-under.

The day ended with James being tied for 32nd place with big-name golfers like Justin Thomas, Min Woo Lee and U.S. Open champion Wyndham Clark.

“He’s got a large crowd from Hamden Hall who came out. His coach from Hamden Hall is here, some other friends, and some family that are here," James' mom Gretchen James says. "It’s a lot of fun to be able to share this with them, and see them excited for him, too."

Even though it wasn’t a perfect finish to his round, James still made time for the fans.

He signed plenty of autographs as he walked off the 18th green before heading into the clubhouse.

“He's the 'golden boy," family friend Jennifer Barba says. "He’s shaken everybody’s hand, he’s given autographs to young kids. He’s a great individual that’s all real. His family, the people with him today, are so supportive of him."

Following his round, the Milford native said he could feel the hometown crowd propelling him to a strong showing.

“It was funny, the only people I could hear were my high school buddies," James says. "I knew their voices, so it was awesome… amazing experience."

James tees off in the second round Friday at 12:20 p.m.