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Ferullo has lead going to Seacoast Amateur final round
DOVER – Following back-to-back rounds under par Jamie Ferullo has put himself in prime position to capture his first Seacoast Amateur Golf Championship.
The Rochester Country Club member carded a 2-under 68 on Saturday at Cochecho Country Club for a two-day total of 139 and carries a five-stroke lead over Will Delano going into Sunday’s third-and-final round at The Golf Club of New England in Stratham.
More:Exeter’s Allard shoots 2-over par to get into contention entering Seacoast Am final round
“I played really smart today, I really did,” Ferullo said. “I only missed a couple greens all day. My two bogeys were two three-putts where I just played to the middle of the green and didn’t get them down. My ball striking was really good today. I stayed within myself and never did anything crazy.
“I just kind of played within myself, learning from the past couple years,” he added. “Get aggressive where you can and take what the course gives you.”
Delano, a member at York Golf & Tennis Club who won the Seacoast Am title in 2010 in his first attempt, shot an even par 70 on Saturday for a two-day total of 144.
More:Groft has 2-shot lead over Ferullo, Keilty after Seacoast Am opening round
Portsmouth CC’s Craig Steckowych and Scott Rolph of Pease Golf Club are tied for third at 146. First-round leader Harvin Groft, Portsmouth CC’s Peter Keilty and defending champ Derek Dinwoodie are deadlocked in fifth at 147.
Delano’s round featured six birdies and six bogeys. He played the final four holes at 2-under. Delano, who relied heavily on his short game, was 3-over after the front and then chipped in for birdie at the par-3 10th.
“That turned my round around,” Delano said. “I had a couple up-and-downs right after that. Normally I’m hitting more greens and not relying on my short game as much but today it definitely helped.”
Groft, who shot a three-under 69 at Rochester CC on Friday and an 8-over 78 on Saturday, reportedly suffered some sort of core injury Saturday and was unavailable for comment after completing his round.
Dinwoodie rebounded with a par 70 on Saturday following a 76 on Friday. He trailed by six shots entering last year’s final round and rallied to win his first Seacoast Am title.
“The course sets up good for Jamie because he can bomb it,” Dinwoodie said of The Golf Club of New England. “If he’s playing well it’s going to be very tough for anybody to catch him. It will be heavy on his shoulders (Sunday) but I’m sure he’ll handle it as well as anybody.”
Portsmouth CC’s Mike Mahan is nine back at 148 and Connor Allard of The Golf Club of New England is 10 behind Ferullo following Saturday’s 2-over 72. Nick Fiste of The Ledges Golf Club rounds out the top 10 at 150.
The low 48 golfers and ties advanced to Sunday’s final round. Despite the high stakes, Ferullo’s strategy won’t change.
“Just pick your spots and kind of understand when and what you can do and can’t do,” he said. “You’ve got to get what the course gives you. It’s a big-boy golf course. The rough is thick and it’s going to be a little wet probably. There’s a big emphasis on hitting fairways and hitting the middle of the greens and doing things like that.”
Ferullo and Delano will be playing in the final group Sunday.
“I’ll try not to make any mistakes early to take myself out of it,” Delano said. “I’ll have to play aggressive and go for par 5’s and try to attack pins a little bit. I’ll definitely try to play aggressively (Sunday) and just see what happens.”
Ferullo, one of the bigger hitters in the area, played the back nine at 2-under with birdies at the par-3 10th and the par-4 14th.
He finished with four birdies, including a chip-in, and two bogeys.
“It’s nice to be in this position,” Ferullo said. “You’re always going to (feel pressure), absolutely. It’s how you deal with it. I felt like last year in the final round I dealt with it really well. I just didn’t putt well. One of the hardest things you can ever do in my opinion … is trying to win a golf tournament.”
Steckowych capped Saturday’s round with a birdie-eagle finish while a minor swing adjustment was the key to Dinwoodie’s improvement 24 hours after shooting a 5-over 77 at Rochester CC. Dinwoodie had two bogeys and an eagle at No. 2 when he stuck a 5-iron to within a foot.
“I was hitting the ball a lot better,” Dinwoodie said. “I wish I could’ve made a few more putts.”
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Portsmouth CC’s Tony Fournier leads the Tony Loch Senior Division by one stroke over John Mumford of The Golf Club of New England (157-158) with Bill Leonard of Portsmouth CC third at 160 and Mark Cartier of York Golf & Tennis Club in fourth (162).
