Rochester, NH – The Round of 64 at the 122nd New Hampshire Amateur Championship presented by Davis & Towle Insurance with support from Johnnie Walker is officially in the books, and match play has delivered the drama we’ve all been waiting for. The day began with a 7-for-1 playoff to determine the final golfer to advance to match play and concluded with 32 competitors advancing further into the week. Among those advancing are many top seeded golfers along with home club brothers, Kory and Jamie Ferullo.
After two days of grueling stroke play qualifying, the field was trimmed to 64, and today’s head-to-head battles showcased just how deep the talent runs in New Hampshire golf. With top seeds in action and upsets already unfolding, Rochester Country Club proved to be the ultimate stage for competitive chaos. Hometown pride was on full display at Rochester Country Club as brothers Jamie and Kory Ferullo, longtime members and standouts at the host club, each secured victories in the Round of 64.
The Ferullos, both Rochester natives and fan favorites this week, used their local knowledge and unwavering support from the gallery to their advantage on a day filled with tightly contested matches and high-caliber play. Jamie Ferullo, a veteran presence at Rochester CC, leaned on familiarity and course strategy to grind out his 3&2 win over Thomas Murdough.
“I think the biggest thing going into stroke play was knowing where to miss to get through to the next round,” Jamie said. “But now it’s about playing good golf. There’s a lot of good players out there. This is home, this is where I’ve been for 25 years, so it’s a lot of fun to have it here and see how the best players do.”
Despite not making everything on the greens, Jamie kept the pressure on with quality approach shots. He said, “I hit a lot of really good shots today. I didn’t make a lot of putts but sometimes I didn’t really have to.”
“The first match is always the hardest,” Jaime continued. “You just have to do what you have to do to get through.”
His younger brother, Kory Ferullo, brought firepower to his match, opening with five birdies on the front nine and riding a strong start to a convincing 3&2 win over Eric Foster. Kory commented, “It’s fun to be out here, knowing the course in and out, and getting the support of people that are local and want to see you succeed. It’s been fun to be comfortable while still grinding and trying to stay locked in.”
Kory pointed to his consistency off the tee and into greens as a key to his success. He stated, “I think my ball striking has been very good. Being able to go tee to green is certainly helpful to keep the greenside chips out of mind.”
The brothers, both chasing deep runs in the match play bracket, also emphasized the camaraderie they share throughout the week. “We’re always there to support each other and we want to see each other do well,” Kory said. “I think it would be really fun to compete against each other, but we just want to see each other do well.”
Jamie echoed the sentiment saying, “It doesn’t get any better than to have the support of my family and the club. It’s good to see [Kory] really playing well.”
Stroke play co-medalists Justin Grondahl and Josiah Hakala, who both fired 7-under over the first two rounds to earn the No. 1 and No. 2 seeds respectively, handled their opening matches with focus and precision. Grondahl moved on with a steady performance defeating 64 seed Tucker Roberto 3&1, while Hakala displayed his dominance winning 4&3 over Jimmy Schouller.
The Round of 64 also saw its fair share of upsets, with several top-20 seeds falling to lower-ranked challengers, proving that once match play begins, seeding becomes just a number. Notable wins from rising stars and seasoned veterans alike have already shifted the momentum of the bracket heading into Thursday’s Round of 32.
Rochester Country Club continues to challenge competitors with sloped greens, thick rough and a layout demanding precise tee shots. Success here requires more than just ball-striking, it’s about patience, match play savvy, and clutch putting under pressure.
The Round of 32 and Round of 16 are set for Thursday, where competitors will face the demanding task of winning twice in one day to advance to Friday’s Quarterfinals. With the championship trophy and state bragging rights on the line, the pressure is only building.
NH Amateur | Match Play Bracket | Round of 64 Results