Laconia, NH – It was a day defined by cold winds, quick greens, and plenty of drama as the final round of the New Hampshire Mid-Amateur Championship presented by Johnnie Walker concluded Thursday at Laconia Country Club. Temperatures barely climbed into the 50s and gusty winds persisted throughout the day, challenging even the steadiest players. In the end, Jake Nutter (Derryfield Country Club) emerged victorious, claiming his second championship win of the 2025 season after a wild, roller-coaster final round that featured two eagles on the back nine, including a clutch one on the 17th hole that sealed his one-shot victory.
“I probably hit the ball the best I’ve hit all week today,” said Nutter. “I started off solid doing exactly what I needed to do and doing what I said yesterday, hit a lot of greens, hit a lot of fairways, and make a lot of pars and try to shoot even par. But that didn’t happen after the 7th hole. I made double on 7 and a bogey on 9 to make the turn at four-over.”
Despite losing the lead midway through the round, Nutter never stopped battling. “I knew something had to go right on the back, and then it didn’t go right with a triple on 12,” he said. “And then I had a ‘come-to-Jesus’ moment and kind of treated it as match play. I said I have to beat him one hole at a time. So, the eagle on 13 was huge.”
That momentum carried through the closing stretch. Trailing Ryan Kohler (NH Golf eClub) for most of the back nine, Nutter took advantage on the par-5 17th when Kohler found the water off the tee and made bogey. “When I eagled on 17 and he made bogey, I knew I just needed to hit two solid shots and I could walk away with it,” said Nutter. Standing over his putt on 17, he recalled thinking, “How cool would it be to eagle both par-5s on the back nine?”
Nutter called it “the most up and down round I have probably ever played,” adding, “All week it’s been such a grind. I don’t feel like I’ve played great because it’s been so tough. It’s great. It’s been an unlikely season for me, but I’m happy that I’m here now.”
Ryan Kohler finished runner-up, just one stroke behind, after a strong performance that saw him hold the lead for much of the back nine before that costly mistake on 17. Despite a disappointing finish, Kohler can be proud of his performance as he doesn’t get out for as many rounds as some of his fellow competitors.
A special shoutout goes to Kurt Eddins (Cochecho Country Club), who delivered the only under-par round of the entire tournament, firing an impressive two-under 70 in the final round to finish in solo third place. His round stood out as one of the week’s best performances, showcasing precision and composure in the toughest conditions of the championship.
AJ Correia (Laconia Country Club) and Ryan Zetterholm (NH Golf eClub) rounded out the top five, both finishing just three shots back at 11-over par.
The 2025 New Hampshire Mid-Amateur Championship proved to be a true test of grit and perseverance, with challenging conditions demanding both mental toughness and creative shot-making. For Nutter, it was another statement victory in a standout season, one defined by resilience, clutch play, and a flair for the dramatic.
New Hampshire Golf would like to thank the entire staff at Laconia Country Club for hosting our final championship of the season. The course was in pristine condition and was a tough, yet fair test of golf for all competitors.
NH Mid-Amateur | Results
