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July 14. 2012 7:36PM
State Am Notebook: Leavitt cures putting woes to triumph
CONCORD — Teenage golfer Joe Leavitt rebounded from a heartbreaking loss last summer to win the 109th State Amateur Championship at Concord Country Club.
Celebrating on Saturday required he clear the hurdle that cost him in 2011.
“I think, last year, (putting) kind of killed me,” the tournament’s No. 2 seed said after defeating DJ Lantz, 8 and 7, in the final. “I was shaky over the 5-, 6-footers. I was a lot better this year.”
Leavitt, 18, reached last year’s State Am quarterfinals as the No. 8 seed. But he was bumped from the bracket by another young standout, Nashua’s James Pleat, in a 20-hole contest.
On Friday, Leavitt faced Chris Houston in the Round of 8. The dual was decided on the 20th hole, though the outcome was more to Leavitt’s liking.
The difference? Leavitt said he was more confident this year in his ability, particularly regarding performance on the greens.
Leavitt said on Wednesday after his Round of 64 match-play win that putting would determine how he’d fare in the tourney.
“I think I progressively got better,” he said after the championship ceremony. “At first, these greens were real tricky. I putted awful on Monday. Every day I got a little better. I started to make some 6- to 12-footers, which are the putts you need to make if you’re going to win matches.”
He said the experience of competing in the 2011 State Am at Nashua Country Club was crucial.
“I was never in that position before,” he said. “I had a lot of people watching.”
NO WAY that Leavitt was going to let up once he built a 6 up lead through 18 holes.
His caddie — also his father — wouldn’t let him.
“We’ve got to keep attacking. (Lantz) is good,” Bob Leavitt said from the fairway after his son’s second shot on the 25th hole landed 15 feet from the cup.
The message was received. The caddie’s son won the hole, kicking off a three-hole run that increased the lead to 7 up.
“We just said, ‘We’ve been doing this for six days,’” Bob said after the match. “We’re not going to start playing defense now.”
LEAVITT’S WIN in the 2012 State Am continued an impressive golf trend in the Granite State.
Aside from Jim Cilley, who won last year’s title at 30 years old, every champion since 2005 was younger than 24 at the time he finished No. 1.
Leavitt is the youngest. Previously, Camrin James (2009) won the tourney as a 19-year old.
Every champ from 2005-10 was between the ages of 19 and 23. The group includes Craig Cyr (2005, 21 years old); Matt Burrough’s (2006, 23); Tim Strout (2007, 20); Mark Stevens (2008, 21); James; and Nick MacDonald (2010, 21).
Marc Thaler may be reached at mthaler@unionleader.com.
Celebrating on Saturday required he clear the hurdle that cost him in 2011.
“I think, last year, (putting) kind of killed me,” the tournament’s No. 2 seed said after defeating DJ Lantz, 8 and 7, in the final. “I was shaky over the 5-, 6-footers. I was a lot better this year.”
Leavitt, 18, reached last year’s State Am quarterfinals as the No. 8 seed. But he was bumped from the bracket by another young standout, Nashua’s James Pleat, in a 20-hole contest.
On Friday, Leavitt faced Chris Houston in the Round of 8. The dual was decided on the 20th hole, though the outcome was more to Leavitt’s liking.
The difference? Leavitt said he was more confident this year in his ability, particularly regarding performance on the greens.
Leavitt said on Wednesday after his Round of 64 match-play win that putting would determine how he’d fare in the tourney.
“I think I progressively got better,” he said after the championship ceremony. “At first, these greens were real tricky. I putted awful on Monday. Every day I got a little better. I started to make some 6- to 12-footers, which are the putts you need to make if you’re going to win matches.”
He said the experience of competing in the 2011 State Am at Nashua Country Club was crucial.
“I was never in that position before,” he said. “I had a lot of people watching.”
- - - - - -
NO WAY that Leavitt was going to let up once he built a 6 up lead through 18 holes.
His caddie — also his father — wouldn’t let him.
“We’ve got to keep attacking. (Lantz) is good,” Bob Leavitt said from the fairway after his son’s second shot on the 25th hole landed 15 feet from the cup.
The message was received. The caddie’s son won the hole, kicking off a three-hole run that increased the lead to 7 up.
“We just said, ‘We’ve been doing this for six days,’” Bob said after the match. “We’re not going to start playing defense now.”
- - - - - -
LEAVITT’S WIN in the 2012 State Am continued an impressive golf trend in the Granite State.
Aside from Jim Cilley, who won last year’s title at 30 years old, every champion since 2005 was younger than 24 at the time he finished No. 1.
Leavitt is the youngest. Previously, Camrin James (2009) won the tourney as a 19-year old.
Every champ from 2005-10 was between the ages of 19 and 23. The group includes Craig Cyr (2005, 21 years old); Matt Burrough’s (2006, 23); Tim Strout (2007, 20); Mark Stevens (2008, 21); James; and Nick MacDonald (2010, 21).
- - - - - - - -
Marc Thaler may be reached at mthaler@unionleader.com.
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