Keene, NH – The second stop on the Road to Rochester brought 60 players to the South Course at Bretwood Golf Course, where Thomas Murdough of Bald Peak Colony Club fired a stellar 4-under-par 68 to claim medalist honors and lead a group of 16 qualifiers into next month’s New Hampshire Amateur Championship presented by Davis & Towle Insurance with support from Johnnie Walker. Those advancing on shot 77 (+5) or better to earn their spot into the championship.
Murdough’s round was a tale of two nines. After a solid even-par 36 on the front, featuring birdies at the par-4 4th and par-4 9th to offset bogeys at the 2nd and 8th, he caught fire on the back nine with a near-flawless 4-under 32. He opened the closing stretch with a birdie at the par-5 10th, then added two more red numbers at the par-3 12th and par-4 14th. Murdough capped off his round with a clutch birdie on the 17th, finishing strong and pulling away from the field.
Mitchell Cormier (NHGA e-Club) finished second with a 2-under 70, while James Kinnunen of The Shattuck Golf Club finished third with a 1-under 71. All, completing their rounds comfortably within the cut line, look forward to bringing their golf game to the New Hampshire Amateur next month at Rochester Country Club to compete against the top amateurs in the state.
Also among those who advanced were Craig Patenaude (Even-par 72) and Colson Seppala (+1), along with three players at 74 (+2): Sam Timmer (Keene CC), Izzy Avilez (Bretwood GC), and Stephen Ramos (NH Junior Club). Avilez’s effort was particularly notable as he represented the host facility and made the most of his course knowledge.
The cut line fell at 77 (+5) with a crowded group of nine players finding themselves in a three-hole playoff for the final two spots into the championship. Wyatt Burbank and Don Steenbeke outlasted the other seven to earn a spot into the 156-player field of the NH Amateur.
The Road to Rochester continues on Sunday, June 22nd as 90 players head to Beaver Meadow Golf Course to battle it out for one of the 24 spots available.
Bretwood Golf Course Qualifier | Results
