Published: 7/6/2020 9:28:47 PM
Modified: 7/6/2020 9:28:44 PM
NASHUA, N.H. — The home-course edge certainly played into James Pleat’s hands on Monday.
The former Dartmouth College golfer shot a 6-under-par 65 to open stroke-play qualifying at the New Hampshire Golf Association Amateur Championship at Nashua Country Club. A longtime NCC member and former golfer at Nashua High School South, Pleat owned a one-shot lead on Phillips Exeter Academy rising senior William Huang after the first day of the weeklong tournament.
The 29-year-old Pleat, who graduated from Dartmouth in 2013, enjoyed a near-perfect opening round. He birdied two of his first three holes, four on the front nine and seven for the day. Huang, reportedly bound for Stanford next year, also birdied seven holes on the day.
Carter’s Pat Pelletier birdied the first three holes of his back nine en route to a 3-under 68 and solo third place. Pelletier, who started on No. 10 and shot even par through the turn, matched Pleat’s front-nine 33 thanks to birdies on Nos. 1, 2 and 3.
Montcalm’s Ben Peters is also in range to advance to match play after a first-round 76, while Carter’s Andy Hunnewell (77) and Claremont’s Zach Melcher (83) are on the outside of the cut line looking in.
Golfers play another 18 holes on Tuesday to determine who will make the 64-player field for match play. Matches begin on Wednesday and continue to the 36-hole championship encounter on Saturday.
AUTO RACING Gray wins at BRS again BRADFORD, Vt. — East Thetford’s Jason Gray won his second Sportsman Modified race of the young Bear Ridge Speedway season on Saturday night.
Gray started 20th in the 26-car feature field before motoring to the win. Gray took the lead on lap 30 and pulled away, leading two other drivers, James Fadden (13th) and Jordan Fornwalt (12th) who also started well back. Matt Ellsworth (Sportsman Coupes), George Osgood (Limited Late Models), Lucas Wheeler (Dirt Stockers) and Jason Porter (Four Cylinders) claimed the other feature victories.
Chris Donnelly took the checkered flag in the season’s first Sprint Cars of New England event.
Racing continues — with a limited number of spectators allowed to attend — on Saturday at 6 p.m.
Christian repeats at CMS CLAREMONT — Ray Christian III won his third career Granite State Pro Stock Series race at Claremont Motorsports Park, taking the Independence 100 to highlight Friday’s card.
Christian bided his time through the 100-lap main event, eventually taking the lead for the first time with 10 circuits remaining. Aaron Fellows extended his Late Model Sportsman division winning streak to 19 to highlight the CMS support divisions. Nic Skillings (Mini Stocks), Randy Town (Street Stocks), Kodi Sabins (Pure Stocks) and Paul Colburn (Six Shooters) also won.
The 52-lap Dean Smith Memorial Race for the Late Models will highlight Friday’s 7 p.m. show.