Newport, NH – A full slate of match play action unfolded Wednesday at Newport Golf Club, as both the Mid-Amateur and Senior Match Play Championships hosted their Quarterfinal rounds. With high stakes and tightly contested matches across the board, eight players, four from each championship division, emerged victorious and advanced to next month’s Semifinals. The morning featured clutch putts, extra-hole drama, and standout performances from some of New Hampshire’s top mid-amateur and senior competitors.
Mid-Amateur Match Play
Quarterfinal action wrapped up Wednesday morning at the Mid-Amateur Match Play Championship at Newport Golf Club, with four players punching their tickets to the Semifinals after a series of competitive and dramatic matchups.
Top seeded Jalen Rines (NHGA e-Club) continued his strong form that we saw at the New Hampshire Amateur two weeks ago by defeating Branden Porter 5&4. Rines’ steady play and confident approach have made him a consistent threat throughout the bracket. Rines will face Robert Boulanger in the Semifinal round as Boulanger found himself in the Semifinals after Austin Cassady conceded their Quarterfinal matchup due to injury.
Second-seeded Connor Greenleaf (Atkinson Resort & CC) and third-seeded Harvin Groft (CandiaOaks), both strong contenders, will face eachother in the Semifinals as they confidently took down their opponents in the Quarterfinals at Newport. Greenleaf defeated 2021 Mid-Amateur Match Play champion, Ricky Dichard, 4&3, while Groft took on Alex Gambordella, closing out that match on Newport’s 15th hole, winning 5&3.
The Semifinals will feature two exciting matchups to determine the two golfers headed to the finals at The Golf Club of New England.
Mid-Amateur Match Play | Bracket
Senior Match Play Championship
The Senior Match Play Championship rolled into the Quarterfinals Wednesday morning at Newport Golf Club, with four seasoned competitors earning their spots in the Semifinals following a series of closely contested matches.
Top seeded Peter Keilty (Portsmouth Country Club) showcased his match play consistency as he held on for a win over Scott Doughty in a tightly contested match. Keilty ended up winning on the 20th hole of the match after Doughty was 1up in the match for much of the back nine. Keilty’s solid all-around game has carried him into the final four as he eyes a Senior Match Play title. Keilty will next face defending Senior Match Play Champion, Danny Arvanitis, who faced Peter Beaulieu in the Quarterfinals. Arvanitis used his match play experience to his advantage as he closed out that Quarterfinal matchup on the 16th hole, defeating Beaulieu 3&2 to advance.
The Senior Match Play Bracket saw a big upset in the Quarterfinals at No. 10 seed Dave Larrivee took down No. 2 seed and five-time Senior Match Play Champion, Craig Steckowych. Larrivee quickly gained the lead in the match by winning the first hole and never let Steckowych get ahead. While the match returned to tied multiple times throughout the round, Larrivee won two holes in a row on the back nine to truly clinch the Quarterfinal win. He moves on to face John Mumford who took down Rob Parsi in the Quarterfinals, 4&3.
With one past champion remaining in the bracket surrounded by three additional strong competitors, the Semifinals are sure to bring the heat as they battled it out for spots in the finals at The Golf Club of New Engalnd.
Senior Match Play | Bracket
The Semifinal Matches are set to be contested at Passaconaway CC on August 11th.
