Stone Makes Final Round Comeback for Second Straight NH Senior Win
Greenland, NH – As the bulk of the rain clouds stayed away, the final round of the New Hampshire Senior Championship at Portsmouth Country Club commenced. Keith Stone played one of his best rounds in NHGA play to come from behind and claim his second-straight New Hampshire Senior title. He passed round one leader, Craig Steckowych, early on and never looked back on his way to a second-round 69 (-3) to win by five strokes.
Stone had a blemish-free front nine which is what seemed to seal the deal for him early in the round. While he avoided the bogeys, he was able to roll into two birdie putts on Portsmouth’s second and sixth holes and made the turn at two-under par. On the other side, Steckowych was uncharacteristically running into trouble on his home course where he double bogeyed the second hole and bogeyed the third hole. With two more bogeys and just one birdie, Steckowych turned at four-over par and was three shots back of Stone with an uphill battle to climb.
While Stone ran into a little bit of bogey trouble on the back nine. He was able to keep his game in check and roll in more birdies than he did bogeys. With a birdie on the final hole, Stone leaves the tournament with a trophy in his hands and feeling good about his golf game. He carded a 69 (-3) to win by five strokes, just like his win last year where he started three shots back and won the tournament by five strokes.
When asked about whether he knew where he was at, he said, “I listen to sport psychologists who say not to look, but for me, it helps me to look [at the leaderboard]”.
It seemed to be a different Keith Stone out at Portsmouth in the final round as he walked with confidence and struck the ball well. Stone stated, “I was very comfortable today. It helped a lot with the experience I had last year being behind, catching up early and having that adrenaline.”
For those watching, you could see the adrenaline that Stone was working with, and he managed it well with his golf game. He stated, “It’s the best I’ve ever driven the ball for 36 holes, ever, and I’ve been playing golf for 40 years. I’ve never driven it like that.”
He drove the ball perfectly all tournament long, but he said the difference between the two rounds for him was his iron play. He said, “I capitalized on those drives. My irons were very poor yesterday and it actually crept in on those last few holes.”
As Stone goes on to win his second-straight New Hampshire Senior title, Craig Steckowych leaves disappointed in his own game as he struggled to find the fairway off the tee and left himself in some tough positions to make par. He was not able to climb his way back on the back nine like he had hoped and he ultimately settled for a tie for second place after a second round, 77 (+5).
Steckowych is joined in second place position by fellow Portsmouth Country Club member, Peter Keilty who carded consistent rounds of 74-74 to finish the 36-hole championship at four-over par.
The New Hampshire Golf Association would like to thank Portsmouth Country Club for hosting this two-day tournament. The course was great, competitors enjoyed it and it was a true test of golf.
NH Senior | Results
Stone had a blemish-free front nine which is what seemed to seal the deal for him early in the round. While he avoided the bogeys, he was able to roll into two birdie putts on Portsmouth’s second and sixth holes and made the turn at two-under par. On the other side, Steckowych was uncharacteristically running into trouble on his home course where he double bogeyed the second hole and bogeyed the third hole. With two more bogeys and just one birdie, Steckowych turned at four-over par and was three shots back of Stone with an uphill battle to climb.
While Stone ran into a little bit of bogey trouble on the back nine. He was able to keep his game in check and roll in more birdies than he did bogeys. With a birdie on the final hole, Stone leaves the tournament with a trophy in his hands and feeling good about his golf game. He carded a 69 (-3) to win by five strokes, just like his win last year where he started three shots back and won the tournament by five strokes.
When asked about whether he knew where he was at, he said, “I listen to sport psychologists who say not to look, but for me, it helps me to look [at the leaderboard]”.
It seemed to be a different Keith Stone out at Portsmouth in the final round as he walked with confidence and struck the ball well. Stone stated, “I was very comfortable today. It helped a lot with the experience I had last year being behind, catching up early and having that adrenaline.”
For those watching, you could see the adrenaline that Stone was working with, and he managed it well with his golf game. He stated, “It’s the best I’ve ever driven the ball for 36 holes, ever, and I’ve been playing golf for 40 years. I’ve never driven it like that.”
He drove the ball perfectly all tournament long, but he said the difference between the two rounds for him was his iron play. He said, “I capitalized on those drives. My irons were very poor yesterday and it actually crept in on those last few holes.”
As Stone goes on to win his second-straight New Hampshire Senior title, Craig Steckowych leaves disappointed in his own game as he struggled to find the fairway off the tee and left himself in some tough positions to make par. He was not able to climb his way back on the back nine like he had hoped and he ultimately settled for a tie for second place after a second round, 77 (+5).
Steckowych is joined in second place position by fellow Portsmouth Country Club member, Peter Keilty who carded consistent rounds of 74-74 to finish the 36-hole championship at four-over par.
The New Hampshire Golf Association would like to thank Portsmouth Country Club for hosting this two-day tournament. The course was great, competitors enjoyed it and it was a true test of golf.
NH Senior | Results