GONIC – When you’re still dealing with the aftereffects of a broken right ankle that occurred just six months ago and had to be surgically repaired you sometimes want to get off your feet as quickly as possible.
With the aid of a cart and a sharp game Ryan Zetterholm was able to do just that on Wednesday. Winning eight of the first nine holes, the Exeter resident rolled to an impressive 9-and-8 victory over Bill Raney to highlight the first round of match play in the 122nd New Hampshire State Amateur Golf Championship at Rochester Country Club.
“PT’s going well so I played a few rounds and decided to sign up for the tournament anyway, figuring no pressure or anything,” said Zetterholm, a lefty who got out of the cast a scant six weeks ago. “Given the circumstances I’m really happy with the way things are going. I’m obviously dealing with the injury and making accommodations. I’ve had to change my swing. I don’t think I’d be able to play if they didn’t offer carts. That’s a difference-maker.”
Zetterholm, the No. 16 seed who resides in Exeter and is a member of CandiaOaks, turned in a bogey-free round and played the 10 holes in 3-under par. He reached the quarterfinals last year when the tournament was held in Concord. Raney qualified for match play as the No. 49 seed.
“I just didn’t make any mistakes,” Zetterholm said. “I didn’t make a single bogey. That’s kind of my game. I’m just parring my opponent to death and maybe I’ll throw in a few birdies here and there. Very rarely am I going to make a bogey or double bogey.”
Zetterholm will be joined in Thursday’s round of 32 by local golfers Peter Lown (NHGA e-Club), Jamie Ferullo (Rochester CC), Kurt Eddins (Cochecho Country Club), Connor Allard (Golf Club of New England), Kory Ferullo (Rochester CC), co-medalist Justin Grondahl (NHGA e-club), Derek Dinwoodie (Farmington CC) and Harvin Groft (CandiaOaks).
The round of 16 will also be played Thursday with the quarterfinals and semifinals slated for Friday. The two survivors will meet in a 36-hole final on Saturday. Of the 16 matches on Thursday, nine involve local golfers.
As for Wednesday’s results involving locals pitted against each other, No. 31 Allard defeated No. 34 Owen Himmer of Cochecho CC, 2-and-1, and No. 46 Dinwoodie knocked off No. 19 Brett Wilson (2-and-1), who recently captured his sixth Seacoast Am title. No. 61 seed Grey Gagnon of Pease Golf Course and No. 63 Jimmy Schouller of Abenaqui Country Club were eliminated Wednesday.
No. 52 seed Lown upset No. 13 Noah Farland (3-and-1); No. 36 Jamie Ferullo downed No. 29 Thomas Murdough (3-and-2); No. 28 Eddins knocked off No. 37 Scott Underhill (7-and-5); No. 11 Kory Ferullo held off No. 54 Eric Foster (3-and-2); and No. 1 Grondahl, who resides in Portsmouth, topped No. 64 Tucker Roberto (3-and-1); and No 24 Groft edged No. 41 Bryce Zimmerman, 1-up.
Round of 32 tee times Thursday involving local golfers include Grondahl (7:30 a.m.); Zetterholm (7:38); Groft (7:54); Jamie Ferullo (8:02); Lown 8:10; Eddins (8:18); Allard (8:34); Dinwoodie (9:14); and Kory Ferullo (9:30).
“I had to relearn how to walk,” Zetterholm said. “I didn’t think I’d even be playing in tournaments. I’m just happy to not only be playing but playing well.”
Read the full article here
