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State Am history may be repeating itself after Day 1 at NCC

By Tom King - Staff Writer | Jul 7, 2020

Telegraph photo by TOM KING Nashua North alum Brandon Gillis fires a tee shot on the 18th hole at Nashua Country Club on Monday. Gillis finished the day with a two-over 73.

NASHUA – Nine years ago, a local Dartmouth College kid named James Pleat was the New Hampshire State Amateur medalist after the first two days of stroke play at Nashua Country Club.

Fast forward to 2020, and there he is, in the driver’s seat again, well out of college, of course. Pleat fired a six-under 65 on Monday, and while being the medalist is no guarantee of anything, he’d like to finish the day today that way.

“I’d obviously love to be the medalist,” he said, recalling he was also co-medalist in 2013. “It definitely means a lot. It’s a great accomplishment.

“But this tournament is really two different events. It’s stroke play, and then you then you start over and start from scratch (for match play).”

Pleat, who made it to the semifinals in 2011, had seven birdies and bogeyed just one hole, the 372-yard par-4 fourth hole. The rest were all pars.

“I made a few putts,” Pleat said. “The greens were really fast, which was really great, a lot faster than I’ve been used to.”

Dartmouth, meet Stanford. There’s an Stanford incoming freshman right behind Pleat in New Jersey native William Huang, who is playing out of the Golf Club of New England in Stratham.

Huang, who went to Phillips Exeter, had just two bogeys and seven birdies. He played NCC for the first time in a practice round on Saturday, and was on fire on Monday.

“The main thing was the greens are so true, they’re a little quick, and I like fast greens,” he said. “I love the fact they’re rolling so true. I’m pretty good at starting the ball on line. Once it’s on line, it’ll take the break the way I visualized it. Definitely way better today than some of my past rounds.”

Huang used a four iron off the tee on arguably the course’s toughest hole, the 225-yard par 3 14.

In Huang’s threesome was former Telegraph Player of the Year and Nashua High School North standout Brandon Gillis. Gillis, now at the University of Rhode Island, hit a two-over 73.

“I hit it well overall,” Gillis said, who is listed out of Souhegan Woods. “But when I really needed to hit a good shot, I kind of didn’t. I didn’t really leave myself with many good looks for birdie. I didn’t stick it too close.”

Carter Country Club’s Pat Pelletier was third on the day at minus-3, while Hooper Golf Course’s Ryan Kohler and Atkinson’s Jack Pepin rounded out the top five tied at minus-2.

Kurt Eddins (Cochecho), Dustin Moreault (Derryfield) and Ryan Brown (Manchester CC) were tied for sixth at minus-1. Eight were tied at even par, including Green Meadow’s Jeff Monahan and Pleat’s father, former State Am champion (1997) Phil Pleat.

Defending champion John DeVito of Passaconaway finished with a four over 75.

Other members of the younger guard struggled. Two other former Telegraph Players of the Year, North’s Bryce Zimmerman and Bishop Guertin alum (and current Bentley University standout) Tommy Ethier were six and seven over, 77 and 78, respectively.

It was a somewhat tough day for an old guard member, Concord’s Bob Mielcarz, who finished with a seven-over 78 as well.

They’ll all likely have to better their scores to make the cut later today to Wednesday’s first match play round of 64 match play. Nine years ago, when James Pleat had a two-day stroke play total of 135 but eventually lost in the semis, it was 153. His father Phil, who won his title at NCC, figures it could be lower this time around.

“Maybe 151,” he said. “But I’m guessing.”

Besides that, it’s estimated to be one of the strongest fields in years.

“The course is great,” Phil Pleat said. “I was lucky enough to play in the morning when there wasn’t any wind, and it’s very rare it’s not windy here. I drove it great, some of my approach shots were kind of scratchy. I got in at 71. Two bogeys, two birdies, hey, I’ll take it.”

Precision is the key.

“The kids that hit it far, it’s all about wedges, and who can control those wedges,” Pleat said. “It’s a great group of young kids, and mid-amateurs, too. It’s the strongest field in years.”

James Pleat is slated to begin his second round today off the 10th hole at 12:50 p.m. Huang, Gillis and Windham’s James McKee (even) aren’t far behind at 1:10 p.m., also off hole 10.

Huang can use this event as his springboard to Stanford, where the competition will be tough.

“I have a spot on the team,” he said. “it’s just qualifying and getting on that travel team. I’m looking forward to the experience.”

As well as the rest of this week.

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For Monday’s complete list of all 156 scores, go to https://nhgaregister.golfgenius.com/pages/2570961. And for today’s pairings and tee times, go to https://nhgaregister.golfgenius.com/pages/2564430.

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