Moultonborough, NH – The journey to the 123rd New Hampshire Amateur Championship presented by Davis & Towle Insurance got underway at Birch Hill Country Club, where 40 players competed for 10 coveted spots in next month’s championship field at Cochecho Country Club. When the final putts dropped, Jon Tregea (NH Golf e-Club) stood atop the leaderboard after carding a 1-over-par 73 to earn medalist honors and lead the first group of qualifiers into New Hampshire’s premier amateur championship. Players needed a score of 78 (+6) or better to secure one of the 10 available spots.
Tregea’s round was built on smart course management. After opening the round with a birdie he quickly followed it up with a bogey and added another bogey to the card on the par-4 4th hole. Despite those two bogeys, he rolled in his birdie putt on the par-3 7th hole to get himself back to even-par which is where he stayed when he made the turn. At the turn, he went bogey-birdie-bogey-birdie before settling in for some pars. He recorded one last bogey on the 15th hole but parred his way in for a 73 (+1).
Tregea worked hard to avoid costly mistakes throughout the round, closing with three consecutive pars to finish one shot clear of the field. He said, “I just kept it in play with no big mistakes. The greens were a little challenging, but I was able to make it around.”
Birch Hill’s undulating greens and demanding approach shots required players to stay disciplined, a strategy Tregea embraced from the opening tee shot saying, “My strategy was to avoid the big numbers and keep it in play. This course can get a little challenging if you get out of position, especially above the pin on these greens.”
With his place in the championship secured, Tregea is especially excited about the opportunity to return to a course that played a significant role in his golf development.
“I’m looking forward to playing Cochecho,” Tregea said. “I grew up playing Cochecho, it was my home course in high school, so I’m looking forward to getting back there and teeing it up.”
Behind Tregea, Myles O’Quinn (Portsmouth Country Club) and Tyler Lizotte (Sky Meadow Country Club) shared second place at 2-over-par 74. Spencer Mack (Bald Peak Colony Club) finished fourth at 3-over-par 75. Two players finished at 5-over-par 77 to comfortably qualify, Oliver Watson (NH Golf e-Club) and Wade Paquette (Rochester Country Club).
The final four qualifying spots were earned at the cut line of 6-over-par 78 by Caden Cunningham (Bald Peak Colony Club), William Hunter (NH Junior Club), Brent Buffington (Owl’s Nest Vineyard Course), and Benny Crowell (Waukewan Golf Club).
Monday’s qualifier was the first of seven statewide qualifying events that will determine the championship field for the 123rd New Hampshire Amateur Championship presented by Davis & Towle Insurance, set for next month at Cochecho Country Club in Dover. Additional qualifiers will continue throughout June as players compete for the remaining spots in the field.
NH Amateur Qualifier at Birch Hill CC | Results
