GREENLAND – Joshua Lacasse didn’t feel like he was playing his best golf during the first two rounds of the 116th New Hampshire Amateur Championship, but the Bow resident and Pembroke Pines Country Club member knew he simply needed to survive the day.
So even when he hit a “squirrelly” tee shot on the 17th while dangerously tip-toeing the line for the cut, he knew it was no time to panic. He recovered to save par, drained a birdie putt on the 18th and slipped into the 64-man match play tournament by one stroke after carding a 76 on Tuesday at Portsmouth Country Club.
“I kind of struggled a little bit both days, but I’ve played in this tournament so many times and it’s so important just to keep your head because you’re never out of it,” Lacasse said. “There’s just so many opportunities out there.”
Lacasse is one of seven golfers from area clubs to earn a chance to keep playing on Wednesday. Garret Olivar of Canterbury Woods Country Club was the top local finisher, tying for 12th at 3-over par after carding a 76-71–147, followed by Concord Country Club’s Will McLaughlin (tied for 17th, 4 over) and Fletcher Sokul (tied for 25th, 6 over), along with Ridgewood Country Club’s Jim Cilley (tied for 29th, 7 over), Laconia Country Club’s Bill Everett (tied for 36th, 9 over), Pheasant Ridge Golf Club’s Patrick Hesseltine (tied for 52nd, 11 over). Former Concord High golfer Kurt Eddins (Cochecho CC) is also still alive after finishing at 4 over.
Manchester Country Club’s Ryan Brown claimed medalist honors for the two rounds of stroke-play qualifying with a 72-69 –141 for a 3-under par. Brandon Gillis of Green Meadow Golf Club followed Monday’s 77 with a blistering 66 to tie Breakfast Hill Golf Club’s Ryan Quinn and Kingswood Golf Club’s Sam Barton for second place at 1 under.
Consistency was key for McLaughlin, who managed back-to-back 74s and is looking forward to the match-play portion of the tournament. He’s the No. 21 seed and will face No. 44 Matt Burroughs of Derryfield Country Club at 9:30 a.m.
“The golf course is awesome,” McLaughlin said. “It’s firm, fast and everything rolls out. It’s kind of a different game than I think most of us are used to playing day-to-day. You have to be a lot more strategic. …You have to be real smart out there.”
Cilley, a former champion, followed Monday’s 76 with a 75 on Tuesday and he felt like a lower score was attainable with better accuracy off the tee. With the fairways allowing drives to roll, precision has become more important than pure power despite plenty of distance from tee to hole.
“I actually think you can sacrifice distance,” Cilley said. “It’s so firm and fast that you’re getting a ton of run-on anyways.
“It feels like you’re hitting onto a billiards table,” he added, “they’re bouncy, they’re springy – and it’s really good because that’s the defense of the golf course. The length, the firmness, the fastness of the greens is the defense of the golf course.”
The golf course certainly proved to be a formidable challenge, as no one in the 156-man field broke par both days of qualifying. That meant damage control was a must.
“You just have to keep your composure out there and make sure you’re hitting quality shots,” Lacasse said. “The greens are so firm, it’s tough to hold shots. It was easy to make big numbers out there, but luckily I didn’t make too many big ones.”
Several area participants came agonizingly close to reaching the round of 64. Concord Country Club’s Brennan Hughes, Doug Champagne and William Hartigan were among 10 hoping for a playoff, but each wound up tied for 65th at 13-over par. Canterbury Woods Country Club’s Jake Castricone and Travis Banga also contended for match play, but finished 15 over.
There are subtle differences between stroke play and match play, but many of the golfers will attack the course with the same game plan and hope that superior execution will advance them to the next round.
“It’s situational golf starting (Wednesday). You’re playing a guy instead of the course,” Cilley said. “Then again, if you’re able to put the ball on the fairway and put it on the greens, you’re putting a lot of pressure on whoever you’re playing.”
“Let’s see if I can make some birdies and win some matches,” McLaughlin said.
(Jason Orfao can be reached at jorfao@cmonitor.com or on Twitter @JasonOrfao.)