LACONIA, New Hampshire (July 16, 2024) – Four years ago, John Broderick (Wellesley, MA | Dedham C&PC) surprised many by winning the New England Amateur at age 16. Four years later, it hardly makes anybody blink to see him atop a leaderboard as the Vanderbilt University standout currently has a share of the lead through Round 1 of the 95th New England Amateur Championship, taking place at first-time host Laconia Country Club (6,813 yards, par-72).
On Tuesday, Broderick shot a birdie-free 5-under-par 67 to earn him a share of the lead with Michael Katsman (Amateur Golf Tour of New England-MA), a Toronto native and former standout at Wagner College. Broderick, who made the quarterfinals of the Mass Amateur Championship last week, rallied late last year to finish runner-up behind close friend Joey Lenane. This time, however, he is playing from out front in his attempt to notch another victory. Katsman, meanwhile, started his round with birdies on three of his first four holes, with just one bogey on the 16th.
In the field of 144, 29 players finished Day 1 under-par while 40 were at least even through the first 18 holes.
Coming off his marathon victory in the Rhode Island Amateur over the weekend, Bobby Leopold (Coventry, RI | Wannamoisett CC) is among four players who are one back of the lead, including Mass Amateur semifinalist and Temple University standout Ethan Whitney (Westminster, MA | Oak Hill CC), Holy Cross’ Alex Elia (Wilton, CT | Silver Spring CC), and Bennett Masterson (Westerly, RI | Misquamicut Club).
Leopold, the 2017 New England Amateur winner, made eagle on the par-5 5th to help jump start his round, while Whitney was bogey free until the closing hole but still finished close to the lead.
Playing in his home state, Will McLaughlin, 38, of Concord Country Club, hit all his fairways in regulation to finish 3-under, tied with Massachusetts’ Max Ash (Weston GC) and Cooper Griffin (Woodland GC). McLaughlin, who used to play college golf at The College of New Jersey, entered the event after several decades upon finding out he was exempt.
“I played awesome,” McLaughlin told the New Hampshire Union leader. “I drove it straight, but I would say my putting was the key to the whole round. I started on 10 and made a 30-footer on 11 that kind of got me going on the day. Then I made another long one — I would say about 25 feet — on 14. I hit it clean and in the right spots. Never had too much trouble.”
The second round begins at 7:30 a.m. Wednesday. The low 60 players and ties will advance to the final round Thursday.
Established in 1922, Laconia Country Club is nestled in the picturesque Lakes Region of New Hampshire. The championship layout 6,813-yard, par 72 course, reimagined by Wogan & Sargent in 2002, honors the inherent beauty and intent of the original design while ensuring playability at all levels. The property spans more than 200 acres of pure natural beauty with undulating terrain and grand stands of mature trees lining forgiving fairways. The practice facilities are some of the largest in New Hampshire: 8,000-square-feet of putting surfaces, 28,000 yards of natural grass driving range, and a short-game area with sand bunkers and plenty of space to practice pitching.
This is the first time Laconia has hosted the New England Amateur, with Baker Hill GC being the state’s most recent host in 2015. Craig Steckowych (2001) is the most recent New Hampshire player to win the tournament.
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