They fought the rain and the tough conditions on Tuesday up in Dover at the 123rd New Hampshire Amateur Golf Championship. And after two days of medal play, the 64-man match-play field is now set at Cocheco Country Club.
As expected, several survivors have a distinct local flavor.
Plaistow’s Jack Pepin took second place overall at four-under par, 66-70 – 136. The 2023 champion in this event, a Southern New Hampshire University product, was one of five area players to advance to match play.
“I went out in the morning, so we really didn’t get any rain. I was pretty fortunate at that,” said Pepin, a mechanical engineer. “It was a little tougher day for me, but I made it work.
“My game has been up and down lately, but I’ve been putting a lot of preparation in, coming into this week, so it’s good to see it paying off.”
Pelham’s Harry Garland, a 2026 Central Catholic grad, tied for 14th at one-over par with a 68-73 – 141.
The two-time Eagle-Tribune All-Star is no stranger to match play here. Garland reached the round of 32 a year ago.
Another area athlete with plenty of NH Amateur battle scars is Mat Gover, a former MASCAC champ for the Mass. College of Liberal Arts.
Gover, who has reached the NH Amateur quarterfinals three of the last four years, shot 69-73 –142 to tie for 19th overall.
In his comeback after five years away from competitive golf, Joe Leavitt, who now lives in Kingston, tied for 27th at 144. The two-time champ will certainly be a threat to do some damage. Also tied at 144 was Pelham’s Colin Brennan. Derry’s Jake Vaiknoras was the fifth area qualifier at 148, tying for 52nd place.
Match play in the round of 64 begins on Wednesday and continues through the week at Cocheco.
“It’s a grind all week. If I can keep the game going, I think I’ll be OK,” said Pepin. “At Cocheco, off the tee, you have to be really solid. It’s short (6,324 yards), so if you drive the ball well, you’ll get a lot of (birdie) chances, which we have seen out there. If your putting game is on, you can make a lot of birdies.”
Mass. Amateur notes
The news is not so great for the locals at the Mass. Amateur in Winchester.
Four area players had hopes to qualify for one of the top 32 match-play spots. Round 2 was suspended on Tuesday due to weather and won’t be completed until Wednesday.
The one player with local ties in good shape is Sam Grindle. The Maine native, who played at Rollins College and now plays out of Haverhill Country Club, shot even-par 71 on Monday in Round 1 to place him in the top 10. He will tee it up in Round 2 on Wednesday morning.