Concord, NH – The opening round of the Senior and Mid-Amateur Match Play Championships got underway at Pease Golf Course, where players faced a competitive test in the stroke play qualifier to determine seeding for match play. With challenging conditions and a strong field across both divisions, the stage is now set for an exciting bracket as competitors advance with their sights set on championship runs.
Mid-Amateur Match Play
Jalen Rines of The Shattuck Golf Club earned medalist honors in the Mid-Amateur division for the third consecutive year, posting a one-over-par 72, to lead the field after the stroke play qualifier. On a day where low scores were hard to come by, Rines’ steady round proved enough to secure the top seed heading into match play.
Matt Moore of Canterbury Woods Country Club finished just one shot back at two-over-par 73 to claim the second seed, while Joshua Pabst (Owl’s Nest Golf Club) and Chris Healy (NH Golf e-Club) followed with rounds of 74 (+3) and 75 (+4), respectively.
Ross Oberg (USGA/NHGA GC) rounded out the top five with a five-over-par 76. A tie for sixth at six-over-par 77 included Austin Cassady (The Maplewood Country Club) and Josh Bolduc (Breakfast Hill Golf Club), both earning solid positions in the bracket.
Matthew Bagdovitz and Jon Tregea, both representing NH Golf e-Club, tied for eighth at seven-over-par 78. Aaron Loring (Rochester Country Club) and Branden Porter (Passaconaway Country Club) shared 10th place after carding eight-over-par 79s.
Brian Boshar (Campbell’s Scottish Highlands) secured the 12th spot with a nine-over-par 80, while Ricky Dichard (Souhegan Woods Golf Club), Sean Fitzgerald (Portsmouth Country Club), and Kyle Sarausky (Kingswood Golf Club) tied for 13th at 10-over-par 81 to round out the qualifiers. Ricky Dichard, the only former Mid-Amateur Match Play champion competing this year, is looking to set himself up for another successful run at the title.
Jeff Sovis (CandiaOaks) posted a 12-over-par 83 to enter a playoff for the final qualifying spot into the Mid-Amateur Championship Flight. After five playoff holes, Sovis sealed the deal to grab the 16 seed for match play.
With a tightly bunched leaderboard and no player under par, the Mid-Amateur division is poised for a wide-open match play bracket where momentum and match-by-match execution will be key.
Mid-Amateur Match Play | Qualifying Results
Senior Match Play Championship
A familiar name rose to the top of the leaderboard as five-time champion Craig Steckowych of Portsmouth Country Club claimed medalist honors with an impressive 3-under-par 68. Steckowych, no stranger to success in this championship, separated himself as one of two players to finish under par, reinforcing his status as a formidable contender heading into match play.
Danny Arvanitis of Derryfield Country Club, a past champion in his own right, earned the second seed after posting a steady 1-under-par 70. With previous experience lifting the trophy, Arvanitis adds another proven presence near the top of the bracket.
A tightly packed group at 3-over-par, 74, featured defending champion Peter Keilty of Portsmouth Country Club alongside Eric Emeneau (Souhegan Woods Golf Club), Rob Parsi (NH Golf e-Club), and Steve Lane (Souhegan Woods Golf Club). Keilty will look to defend his title starting from a strong position after navigating a challenging qualifying round at Pease.
Rounding out the top eight were Scott Doughty (Passaconaway Country Club) and past champion Robert Mielcarz (Concord Country Club), who each carded four-over-par 75. Mielcarz’s previous victory adds even more depth to an already competitive field entering match play.
Additional qualifiers included Dave Larrivee (Manchester Country Club) and John Flynn (Cochecho Country Club), who tied for ninth at five-over-par 76. Stuart Frye (Wentworth by the Sea Country Club) and Colin McGee (Portsmouth Country Club) finished tied for 11th at six-over-par 77.
The final spots in the Championship Flight were decided in a six-player playoff after a tie at seven-over-par, 78. Phil Pleat (Nashua Country Club), Bill Everett (Laconia Country Club), Peter Beaulieu (New Hampshire Seniors), and Kevin Williams (The Golf Club of New England) emerged from the playoff to secure the remaining four positions in the bracket.
With a mix of past champions, a defending titleholder, and a deep pool of contenders, match play promises compelling head-to-head competition in the Senior division.
Senior Match Play | Qualifying Results
The opening round of matches is set for May 28th at Beaver Meadow Golf Course.
