HUDSON, N.H. — Pat Pelletier and Matt Paradis spent last summer circling each other atop the New Hampshire Golf Association’s player of the year standings. They’re doing it again at the New Hampshire Stroke Play Championship.
Paradis, the senior leader of last year’s Southern New Hampshire University men’s golf team, fired a 4-under-par 68 to open the three-day, 72-hole championship at Green Meadow Golf Club on Tuesday. Paradis, of Concord Country Club, fronted a crowded leaderboard that included Pelletier, the defending Stroke Play champion and last year’s player of the year, in a group of six that is a shot off the pace.
Paradis jumped to the front with an eagle and two birdies against two bogeys on the front nine, playing steady golf on the back. Although he competed in the New England Amateur at the Quechee Club this month, Paradis has played a limited schedule this summer because of a hand injury.
Pelletier, who has won the Stroke Play Championship twice, had a strong back nine holes to put himself in a position to challenge for a repeat victory. A 3-under 33 on the back left the Hanover Country Club golfer tied with Green Meadow’s Andy Page, Amherst’s Josh Farmer, Maplewood’s Sam Natti and The Oaks’ Harvin Groft and Taylor Simpson.
Hanover’s Phin Choukas is in good shape to advance as well. The rising Middlebury College sophomore had an opening 3-over 75 and is tied for 22nd place.
The top 40 scores and ties from Wednesday’s second round will advance to Thursday’s 36-hole final day.