A year ago, Harry Garland’s golf game limped through summer.
He missed qualifying for the 2024 New Hampshire Amateur, and just wasn’t getting the results that Central Catholic standout from Pelham was hoping for.
This summer, Garland continues to make up for that lost time.
In the biggest summer of his golf life – the summer before his senior year at Central – Garland kicked it up one more notch on Wednesday, knocking out Manchester CC’s Dave Larivee to advance in the 122nd NH Amateur.
Thursday morning, he’ll challenge top-seeded Justin Grondahl in the Round of 32 at Rochester Country Club in the first pairing off the tee at 7:30 a.m.
“This is definitely a big summer for me college recruiting wise, especially after I didn’t have a great summer,” said Garland, who led the Raiders to the MVC title last fall and earned our Eagle-Tribune Player of the Year. “I knew I had to have a great summer, and so far things are going pretty well.”
Garland never trailed in his Wednesday match-play opener. He took a 1-up lead with a par on the third, an advantage he held until his first bogey of the day on 9.
A birdie on 10 again put him up one, but his last bogey on 12 squared things up.
Four straight Garland pars ended the match on the 16th green, with a 3-and-2 victory.
“I expected to be playing this well. My ball-striking has been really good this week, and I’m finally seeing some putts going in,” said Garland, who is going to be ready for Grondahl. “I know he’s the top seed and he’s very good. I’m going to have to bring my ‘A’ game.”
Round of 64 banter
Atkinson CC’s Mat Gover made six birdies in his 4-and-2 win over Passaconaway’s Nate Stevens. Gover will face Nashua’s Austin Baker in the Round of 32. …
Salem’s Will Miele saw his 3-up lead over Derry’s Zach Hutton evaporate with three straight bogeys. The 19-year-old showed plenty of guts, recovering and holding off Hutton, 2-1, to move on. Miele faces multi-time champ James Pleat of Nashua in the Round of 32. …
Atkinson CC’s Jack Pepin, the 2023 champ, took the lead for good after eight holes and held off Auburn’s Sam Maurice, 2-and-1. Pepin will face Maine’s Harvin Groft on Thursday morning. …
Danville’s Stephen Ramos fell, 3-and-1, to Concord CC’s Will McLaughlin.