Concord Country Club’s Matthew Paradis is in the mix for another prestigious New Hampshire Golf Association title.
The reigning New Hampshire State Am champion fired a 3-under-par 69 in the first round of the Stroke Play Championship at Canterbury Woods Country Club on Tuesday.
Pat Pelletier, who was the runner-up to Paradis in the State Am earlier this month, shot a 68 for the first-round lead. The Carter Country Club member carded five birdies and a bogey on his way to the top of the leaderboard.
Connor Greenleaf (Windham CC) is tied with Paradis for second at 3-under, while Ryan Kohler (Hooper GC) sits in fourth place at 2-under. Nate Choukas (Hanover CC), Ricky Bergevin (Pembroke Pines CC) and Brennen Gillis (Manchester CC) were the only other golfers to break par and sit in a tie for fifth at 1-under.
Garret Olivar is tops among Canterbury Woods representatives. He shot an even-par 72 and is tied for eighth with A.J. Correia (Laconia CC) and Taylor Scott (Nashua CC).
The Stroke Play championship is a 72-hole event. The second round is slated for Wednesday, and the top 40 players make the cut for the 36-hole conclusion scheduled for Thursday.