New Hampshire Amateur Returning to Abenaqui for First Time in Over 25 Years
Rye Beach, NH – Preparations for the 119th New Hampshire Amateur Championship presented by Smuttynose Brewing Company are well underway for Abenaqui Country Club who is set to host the championship for the first time in over 25 years. The course is ready to open its doors to the 156-players field that will compete to be crowned this year’s New Hampshire Amateur Champion and forge their path in Granite State golf history. The tournament will commence on Monday, July 11th and conclude on Saturday, July 16th with a 36-hole final match.
Between qualifying and exempt players, the New Hampshire Golf Association (NHGA) saw a record number of tournament entries for this year’s State Amateur with over 415 golfers registering to compete. Through six qualifying tournaments, the 156-player field was finalized on June 29th. Among those in the field this year are 12 past New Hampshire Amateur champions, collectively earning 25 State Amateur titles.
Bob Mielcarz (Concord CC), nine-time New Hampshire Amateur champion and New Hampshire Golf Hall of Fame Inductee, will tee it up again this year. Mielcarz claimed the titles the last two times the New Hampshire Amateur was held at Abenaqui Country Club, in 1995 and 1978. He returns to the course this year to relive some of those memories and compete again among the top amateur golfers in the state.
Two-time defending champion, James Pleat (Nashua CC) is looking forward to making another run at the title and attempt to join his father, Phil Pleat, with three State Amateur victories. Having won the last two years, there is a certain level of confidence he has in himself, but he also recognizes and respects the talent in the field that New Hampshire has each year.
“I would say I definitely feel more confident after winning the last two years, but I still understand that we have a lot of great players in this state who can win the event and that golf can be fleeting”, commented Pleat. “There’s a little bit of pressure to keep the win streak going but I feel like I dealt with the pressure well last year, so I’ll try to use the same mentality this year and draw from that experience.”
With his sights focused on Abenaqui, James and his father were able to get out for a practice round a few weeks ago to see the course and formulate their game plan for each hole. Commenting that he hasn’t played a competition round at Abenaqui since competing in a NHGA Junior Tour event there about 15 years ago, he was happy to see the course again
James stated, “It’s changed a lot since then! I’m not sure it suits my game super well, but I am just going to try to take what the course gives me, as it places a premium on accuracy off the tee and approach shots. I think it will be a great match play course.”
For the Pleat Family, the State Amateur week has always been compared to The Masters week in terms of excitement for them. They truly look forward to it each year and have some fond memories from when Phil was winning to now passing the torch on to James.
“State Amateur week is always exciting and fun so I’m eager to get out there and see what happens this week”, stated James. “The past couple of years have been amazing but I’ll have to put them behind me for the week and try to play solid golf.”
Along with the 12 past champions in the field, are a few players who have made it to the end of the six-day championship but fell just short of a championship title. Brandon Gillis (Sky Meadow CC) finished in the runner-up position last year at North Conway to James Pleat. Gillis is back for redemption this year after finishing up his senior year playing for the University of Rhode Island Men’s Golf Team. Also out of Sky Meadow CC is Cam Sheedy who finished second to James Pleat in the 2020 New Hampshire Amateur held at Nashua Country Club. Sheedy, Gillis, Pleat, and the remainder of the 156-player field will start out on level playing ground at Abenaqui on Monday.
Abenaqui Country Club, hosting its 9th New Hampshire Amateur Championship, will play at around 6,600 yards for the tournament. As one of the premier courses in New Hampshire, located within walking distance to the ocean, players are eager to experience the pristine conditions the course offers and the challenging green complexes. Off the tee, it will be important to land tee shots in the right spots for an easier approach shot into the greens.
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The New Hampshire Amateur Championship presented by Smuttynose Brewing Company is a six-day, match play competition. 156 players will tee it up on Monday and Tuesday, playing 36 holes to determine the 64 golfers that will move on to compete in the match play rounds. The championship will conclude with a 36-hole final match to determine who will be crowned the 119th New Hampshire Amateur champion.
Between qualifying and exempt players, the New Hampshire Golf Association (NHGA) saw a record number of tournament entries for this year’s State Amateur with over 415 golfers registering to compete. Through six qualifying tournaments, the 156-player field was finalized on June 29th. Among those in the field this year are 12 past New Hampshire Amateur champions, collectively earning 25 State Amateur titles.
Bob Mielcarz (Concord CC), nine-time New Hampshire Amateur champion and New Hampshire Golf Hall of Fame Inductee, will tee it up again this year. Mielcarz claimed the titles the last two times the New Hampshire Amateur was held at Abenaqui Country Club, in 1995 and 1978. He returns to the course this year to relive some of those memories and compete again among the top amateur golfers in the state.
Two-time defending champion, James Pleat (Nashua CC) is looking forward to making another run at the title and attempt to join his father, Phil Pleat, with three State Amateur victories. Having won the last two years, there is a certain level of confidence he has in himself, but he also recognizes and respects the talent in the field that New Hampshire has each year.
“I would say I definitely feel more confident after winning the last two years, but I still understand that we have a lot of great players in this state who can win the event and that golf can be fleeting”, commented Pleat. “There’s a little bit of pressure to keep the win streak going but I feel like I dealt with the pressure well last year, so I’ll try to use the same mentality this year and draw from that experience.”
With his sights focused on Abenaqui, James and his father were able to get out for a practice round a few weeks ago to see the course and formulate their game plan for each hole. Commenting that he hasn’t played a competition round at Abenaqui since competing in a NHGA Junior Tour event there about 15 years ago, he was happy to see the course again
James stated, “It’s changed a lot since then! I’m not sure it suits my game super well, but I am just going to try to take what the course gives me, as it places a premium on accuracy off the tee and approach shots. I think it will be a great match play course.”
For the Pleat Family, the State Amateur week has always been compared to The Masters week in terms of excitement for them. They truly look forward to it each year and have some fond memories from when Phil was winning to now passing the torch on to James.
“State Amateur week is always exciting and fun so I’m eager to get out there and see what happens this week”, stated James. “The past couple of years have been amazing but I’ll have to put them behind me for the week and try to play solid golf.”
Along with the 12 past champions in the field, are a few players who have made it to the end of the six-day championship but fell just short of a championship title. Brandon Gillis (Sky Meadow CC) finished in the runner-up position last year at North Conway to James Pleat. Gillis is back for redemption this year after finishing up his senior year playing for the University of Rhode Island Men’s Golf Team. Also out of Sky Meadow CC is Cam Sheedy who finished second to James Pleat in the 2020 New Hampshire Amateur held at Nashua Country Club. Sheedy, Gillis, Pleat, and the remainder of the 156-player field will start out on level playing ground at Abenaqui on Monday.
Abenaqui Country Club, hosting its 9th New Hampshire Amateur Championship, will play at around 6,600 yards for the tournament. As one of the premier courses in New Hampshire, located within walking distance to the ocean, players are eager to experience the pristine conditions the course offers and the challenging green complexes. Off the tee, it will be important to land tee shots in the right spots for an easier approach shot into the greens.
​
The New Hampshire Amateur Championship presented by Smuttynose Brewing Company is a six-day, match play competition. 156 players will tee it up on Monday and Tuesday, playing 36 holes to determine the 64 golfers that will move on to compete in the match play rounds. The championship will conclude with a 36-hole final match to determine who will be crowned the 119th New Hampshire Amateur champion.