Neil LaRochelle III’s first try at qualifying for the Maine Beginner went easily for the primary 10 holes at Dutch Elm Golf Membership in Arundel on June 22.
The Lisbon native was plus-2 via 10 holes on June 22, properly contained in the lower line to make it to the Maine Am at Webhanet Golf Membership in Kennebunk on July 12-14. Beginning with the 503-yard, par-5 eleventh gap, his spherical did an entire 180.
Neil LaRochelle III chips onto the follow inexperienced earlier than heading out for a follow spherical late final month at The Meadows Golf Membership in Litchfield. Russ Dillingham/Solar Journal
“I used to be feeling good via 10, I used to be taking part in good golf, however I wasn’t making any putts,” stated LaRochelle, who was constantly the College of Maine-Farmington males’s golf group’s high scorer final fall. “Two-over, I made the flip feeling fairly good. I used to be attempting to maintain on tempo. Then the eleventh gap got here — that wasn’t the very best gap for me.”
LaRochelle took out his trusty driver, however topped his tee shot 20 yards right into a hazard and took an unplayable lie. His second tee shot went into the woods, and he was unable to seek out his ball throughout the allotted three minutes to search for it, so he headed again to the tee field. His third tee shot additionally discovered the hazard.
“I went as much as the tee — and I simply missed a 4-footer for birdie on No. 10, and I wasn’t too comfortable,” LaRochelle stated. “I type of forgot learn how to swing. I hit three out of bounds, and hastily, I’m dropping (for) seven from 240 yards away, nonetheless. I received out of there with an 11. I simply knew I needed to make birdies the following few holes.”
He went from 2-over to 8-over in a matter of minutes, then, at No. 12, he made a bogey. Now at 9-over, the 2021 Lisbon Excessive Faculty graduate’s probabilities to qualify seemed bleak.
“I’m fortunate I saved my composure and I type of dialed in and received locked in,” LaRochelle stated. “I stated: ‘I nonetheless have an opportunity as a result of I did (properly) on the ten holes earlier than that. If I end robust, I nonetheless have an opportunity to qualify.’”
He heard the cutline to qualify could be 77, which meant LaRochelle most certainly needed to birdie 4 of his final six holes to hit 77.
The primary birdie of the day for LaRochelle got here on the par-5 fifteenth gap to get his rating all the way down to 8-over.
After pars on No. 16 and No. 17, one other birdie dropped for LaRochelle at No. 18 to shoot a 7-over, 79. The putt was a sidewinder.
“My method shot, all I’m pondering is, put it subsequent to the opening, I need to make birdie,” LaRochelle stated. “I hit it above the (gap), and on that inexperienced, there’s an enormous slope within the again. I needed to putt it sideways on the high of the hill, and I hit (the ball) sideways three toes. It fell proper all the way down to the opening and hit the pin (to go in). I celebrated and a few individuals watching on the clubhouse celebrated.”
LaRochelle’s group was one of many first to complete its spherical. So after signing his rating card, he waited a number of hours to see if he could be one of many 18 gamers to earn an invite to the Maine Beginner.
The windy circumstances meant gamers recorded greater scores and 79 nonetheless had an opportunity to qualify. LaRochelle practiced his placing and chipping on the follow inexperienced for a number of hours in case there was a playoff.
A playoff wasn’t wanted, although. Six gamers had been at 79, which tied for thirteenth place and crammed up the 18 qualifying spots. Had there been even yet one more participant with 79, there would have been a playoff.
LaRochelle is happy to compete in his first Maine Beginner.
“This might be my first massive match,” LaRochelle stated. “I performed lots of junior tournaments and a few highschool tournaments (with the St. Dom’s golf group). I simply received carried out my first yr of faculty and I performed in these tournaments.
“It is a entire completely different factor; there are some actually good golfers taking part in. I don’t know if I’m out of my league, but when I play some actually good rounds — I believe I can compete.”
LaRochelle paced St. Dominic Academy to a second-place end within the 2020 Class C state championship by capturing a team-best 82, which ranked fifth within the particular person competitors.
Throughout his freshman season at UMF, LaRochelle was the Beavers’ excessive particular person scorer in all however one match.
He stated that he discovered from the qualifying match {that a} caddy might be useful. He’ll have one subsequent week.
“That is going to be the primary match I’ll have a caddy,” LaRochelle stated. “My dad goes to caddy for me — I believe that’s going to occur. He would have helped me loads, too, on the qualifier to calm me down and maintain me in test. I didn’t convey him — I don’t know why.”
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