QUECHEE — Turns out you don’t have to be a U.S. citizen to win the New England Amateur golf championship.
That became apparent Thursday after Quebec City native Xavier Marcoux captured the 90th such crown by shooting a pair of 9-under 69s during the final two rounds on the Quechee Club’s Highland course.
Marcoux, who recently graduated from Florida’s Bishops Gate Golf Academy and who played on Thursday representing Nashawtuc Country Club in Concord, Mass., said he’s lived in the U.S. for years on a green card, acquired after his family moved to the Boston area during his younger days.
Marcoux attended the Buckingham, Browne & Nichols prep school in Cambridge, Mass., playing golf and ice hockey as a freshman, before heading south to work on the links. The move, which led to his earning a Rutgers (N.J.) University scholarship, has clearly paid off.
“I feel I managed my mistakes well and when I was in trouble, I minimized the damage,” Marcoux said. “The putter was working really well all week, even though my ball striking was somewhat shaky at times. I only practiced once in the four days before playing, so sometimes you don’t really know how things are going to play out.”
Finishing second was Bobby Leopold, a 34-year old Coventry, R.I., resident who also won the 2017 New England title and who is a three-time Rhode Island champion. The native of Surrey, England, and onetime Rollins (Fla.) College competitor landed in the right rough with his shot off the 18th tee and chipped a line drive off and past the 18th green that left him putting for a bogey.
“I thought we were headed for a playoff and maybe not even that, so I was stressed,” said Marcoux, who began the final hole at 10-under. “It was all worth it in the end.”
Heavy rains early in the week softened the course but didn’t have a notable effect overall, Marcoux said.
“The course drained really well,” Marcoux said. “We had to manage our spin onto the greens a little bit early on, but things firmed up by today and our 6-irons were rolling out further.”
Lebanon resident Pat Pelletier, playing out of Hanover Country Club, shot a final-day 69. He finished at 3-under 285 and tied for eighth place. Ryan Pelletier, (no relation) playing out of Pawtucket (R.I.) Country Club, shot an even 288.
Leopold and Marcoux were tied for the lead at Thursday’s turn, three shots ahead of Garren Poirier of Rutland and four ahead of Bryson Richards of Barre, the leader after Wednesday’s play. Pelletier was five shots back.
Cornell (N.Y.) University student Charlie Dubiel, who led after Tuesday’s play with a 67, shot a final round 73 and finished in a three-way tie for fifth with a 2-under 284.
The 2020 New England Amateur is scheduled for July 21-23 at Concord (Mass.) Country Club.
Tris Wykes can be reached at twykes@vnews.com.