New Hampshire Mid-Amateur champion Nick MacDonald
(NHGA Photo)
NEW LONDON, NH (October 1, 2016) -- On what turned
out to be a cold, overcast day, Nick MacDonald from
Hanover Country Club won the 33rd playing of the
Robert H. Elliott Mid-Amateur Championship at Lake
Sunapee Country Club. MacDonald finished the
tournament with a 54-hole total of 209, one-under par.
His final round score was three-under par, 67, the
lowest round of all three days from any competitor.
The final round began with Jim Cilley (Ridgewood
CC) and James Pleat (Nashua CC) tied for the lead, with
MacDonald just one shot back. Unfortunately for Cilley,
he took himself out of the running early on the front
nine when he triple-bogeyed the third hole and made
four other bogeys to finish his front nine in five-over
par. MacDonald and Pleat remained steady through the
front nine; Pleat turned at even-par.
For MacDonald, he said, “I got off to a good start; I
was three-under thru 5. Not a whole lot happened until
12 and 13 where I made bogeys.” He had an ideal
scorecard going on the front nine, as he made three
birdies and remained bogey-free.
As he mentioned, the 12th and 13th holes gave him
a little trouble, but he answered back with birdies on 14
and 17, which were important for him to keep the lead
going. Pleat remained consistent the entire round; he
matched MacDonald’s birdie on 14 to put the pressure
on and show he wasn’t surrendering.
The real pressure for MacDonald came on the back
nine. He said, “James was right there. I made those
two bogeys and my three-shot lead when to a one-shot
lead”. He had a two-shot lead on 18 and made a good
up and down to close out his victory.
For MacDonald, his game was on point all three
days. He stated, “Everything was pretty good; when I
made bad shots I managed to get back in the hole
somehow.” Not only is this MacDonald’s first New
Hampshire Mid-Amateur Championship victory, but this
is also the first year he has entered the Mid-Amateur
Championship.
View results for New Hampshire Mid-Amateur
ABOUT THE New Hampshire Mid-Amateur
The tournament will consist of 54 holes
stroke
play with a cut for Saturday to low 27
players
and ties. Entries are
open to male members in good standing
of
member NHGA Clubs who are legal
residents of
New Hampshire. Applicants must be 30
years
of age by the first day of the tournament.
View Complete Tournament Information