Kohler goes back-to-back at New Hampshire Mid-Amateur

October 8, 2021 | by New Hampshire Golf Association

Ryan Kohler won his second straight NHGA Mid-Am title (NHGA)

Kohler holds off a hard-charging Jim Cilley to claim second straight NHGA Mid-Am title

Ryan Kohler has joined five other players to become a back-to-back winner of the New Hampshire Golf Association Mid-Amateur. He shot a final round of 74 (+2) and held off a hard-charging Jim Cilley to win the championship by two shots.

Kohler began the day with a five-shot lead and after enduring a 90-minute fog delay, his round got off to an uneven start. He made bogey at the second and fifth holes and although he made birdie on the par-4 9th, his five-shot lead was down to three when the final group turned for home. Cilley continued to apply pressure as he matched Kohler’s birdie on the par-5 11th and then made one of his own on the par-4 12th. Kohler then made bogey on the par-5 14th and the lead had shrunk to a single shot.

The players matched bogies at the 16th and Kohler played the final two holes in even par as Cilley’s bogey at the last gave the champion his two-shot victory.

“I got off to a slow start and the course was set up a lot more difficult than the first two days,” said Kohler. “Jimmy played great the whole day and kind of turned it into match play. He just kept chipping away and chipping away. We got to 18 and I was 1up. I made a mess of it but made a 50-footer for par that was probably going off the green, probably pretty lucky. But yeah, it was a fun day.”

Kohler joins elite company as a back-to-back winner and he knows what a grind this event is. “These guys are so good, that’s what makes this so special. It feels great to win though, especially on a great golf course,” he added.

While the final two battled it out, Harvin Groft posted the round of the championship with a 5-under 67. His round included seven birdies and he ended the 54-hole event in solo third place. Craig Steckowych finished his week with a round of even par 72 to take home fourth place and Cam Salo and James Pleat rounded out the top-5.

The win caps an eventful year for Kohler. He finished third at the Vermont Open and was an alternate at his US Open local qualifier and ultimately made it to the final round of qualifying held in Columbus, OH. He was also the first alternate for the US Amateur and made the quarterfinals of the New Hampshire Amateur, ultimately losing to champion James Pleat 5 and 4.

A total of 29 players survived to make the 36-hole cut and Montcalm Golf Club proved to be a stout test of golf throughout the week. Groft’s final round was made even more impressive due to it being the only sub-70 round posted all day. Just three players were below par (Groft, Cilley, and Salo) on the day.

About the New Hampshire Mid-Amateur

Kohler goes back-to-back at 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 ag...

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