Dover, NH – New Hampshire Golf’s premier championship returns to one of the state’s classic layouts as 156 of the Granite State’s top amateur golfers compete in the 123rd New Hampshire Amateur Championship presented by Davis & Towle Insurance, July 6-11 at Cochecho Country Club.

The championship begins with two rounds of stroke play on Monday and Tuesday, where all 156 competitors will play 18 holes each day. Following 36 holes, the field will be cut to the low 64 players, with a playoff scheduled for Wednesday morning if necessary to determine the final match play positions. The championship then shifts to match play with the Round of 64 on Wednesday, followed by the Round of 32 and Round of 16 on Thursday. Quarterfinal and semifinal matches will be contested Friday before the tournament concludes with a 36-hole championship match on Saturday.

The winner will earn more than the state’s most prestigious amateur title. Along with hoisting the championship trophy, the champion will receive an exemption into the 2026 U.S. Amateur Championship at Merion Golf Club and Philadelphia Country Club this August.

The field features 11 past New Hampshire Amateur champions, led by defending champion Josiah Hakala, who captured his first title last summer and returns looking to become a repeat champion and earn a spot back into the U.S. Amateur field.

“I would definitely say that knowing that I won it last year gives me more confidence just knowing that if I play my game I can win,” said Hakala. “Cochecho is definitely a place you need a look at. I think it sets up well for me. It’s kind of a tighter golf course which I like.”

Hakala enters championship week in solid form after competing against one of the nation’s strongest amateur fields at last week’s Northeast Amateur. He said, “My game has been pretty good other than putting. I played well at the Northeast Amateur last week but putted really bad so I’m getting that straightened out before the State Am.”

With six days of golf and six matches potentially standing between him and another title, Hakala knows patience will be key stating, “I think the biggest thing for the week is just one day, one match at a time. It’s a long week and you can’t get ahead of yourself.”

While defending his state title is a priority, Hakala has his sights set on another opportunity that comes with a victory. He said, “My main goal for the rest of the season is getting into the U.S. Amateur.”

Also adding intrigue to this year’s championship is a strong group of junior competitors. Ten junior golfers are competing in the field, including Grey Gagnon, who captured the New Hampshire Junior Amateur Championship earlier this week at Mt. Washington Resort Golf Club. Gagnon enters the week with momentum after earning one of the state’s premier junior titles and will look to test his game against New Hampshire’s top amateur players.

This year’s championship marks the fourth time Cochecho Country Club has hosted the New Hampshire Amateur Championship and its first since 2009, when Camrin James claimed the title. The Dover club will also have a strong home-course presence, with nine Cochecho members teeing it up in the championship.

Measuring just over 6,300 yards and playing to a par of 70, Cochecho Country Club is known as a classic shot-maker’s course where precision and strategy outweigh raw power. Described by renowned restoration architect Ron Forse as a “hidden gem,” the club’s original nine holes were designed in the early 1920s by noted architect Wayne Stiles before Phil Wogan later expanded the course to 18 holes. The result is a layout that rewards thoughtful course management, demanding players shape shots, control distances, and make strategic decisions throughout the round. Rather than favoring length off the tee, Cochecho offers opportunities for players of varying styles to contend, placing a premium on accuracy and creativity.

“Every year, our Amateur Championship identifies the best all-around amateur golfer in New Hampshire, and Cochecho is an outstanding venue to do just that,” said New Hampshire Golf Tournament Director Kinsey Hoffmann. “It’s a golf course that rewards smart decision-making, precision, and patience, which are all qualities that become even more important once we transition into match play.”

“The format makes this one of the most exciting weeks on our championship schedule,” Hoffmann added. “Players have to first survive two rounds of stroke play just to earn a spot in match play, and from there every match presents a new challenge. With so many past champions, talented young players, and experienced competitors in the field, we’re looking forward to an exciting championship.”

Championship week begins Monday morning with the opening round of stroke play. By Saturday afternoon, one player will have navigated one of amateur golf’s most demanding tests to earn the title of New Hampshire Amateur Champion and a coveted place in the U.S. Amateur Championship.

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