Drake Hull takes aim at Vermont Amateur three-peat at Rutland Country Club

Drake Hull had barely lifted his second Vermont Amateur trophy when people breathed the question into existence last summer:

Could a repeat turn into a three-peat in 2019? 

Anticipation aside, the point stood. The two-time champion would have a gilt-edged chance to grab a third consecutive crown when the tournament returned to his home course, Rutland Country Club, in 12 months' time.

Well, that year is up, and the University of Connecticut standout will set out Tuesday in the full glare of the hometown spotlight as state's best tee it up for the 113th Vermont Amateur.

[First round tee times below]

Hull, 22, followed his 2017 breakthrough at Dorset Field Club with another win at Country Club of Vermont last summer, edging former teammate — and now UConn coach — Max Major in a riveting final round duel. His skills, combined with an intimate knowledge of Rutland's lightning-quick greens, have him the odds-on favorite to make it three in a row this week.

If Hull can fulfill such promise, he would be the first to win three straight titles since Trevor Murphy (2005 to 2007) and the first to win on his home course since Murphy did it in 2006. 

More:Drake Hull captures Vermont Amateur repeat with dramatic birdie

However, Rutland rarely goes down without a fight — even to players who know its 18 holes well. During its last turn as the tourney venue, Brian Albertazzi posted a winning score of 7-over for 72 holes, edging runner-up Cody Larson, son of RCC's longtime superintendent, by three shots. 

And many of Hull's closest challengers are also clubmates well-acquainted with the course, which is hosting for a record 22nd time.

Some of the contenders: 

• Jared Nelson, after taking fourth place the last two years, should be ripe to contend again. The son of Rutland pro Greg Nelson has logged more time around RCC than most and will be joining Hull at UConn in the fall following a transfer from Siena.

• Garren Poirier, Vermont Amateur runner-up in 2009 and 2012, has fired in the low-60s at Rutland before and boasts plenty of big-time tournament experience.

More:Rutland Country Club guide for the 2019 Vermont Amateur golf championship

• Recent Rutland High School grad Logan Broyles, another VT star headed to UConn with Hull, stumbled early in last year's tournament but is more than capable of pushing for the title. He grabbed fifth at Ekwanok in 2016 as a 15-year-old.

• Country Club of Barre members Eric Lajeunesse, 31, and Bryson Richards, a recent U-32 grad, have been top-10 fixtures in the last half-decade. Lajeunesse grabbed third at Barre (2013) and Ekwanok (2016). And Richards, set to play at Rhode Island in the fall, claimed third at Dorset.

• Pat Pelletier, a former pro, took second place at last year's New Hampshire Amateur in Hanover and qualified easily at Williston Golf Club last month.

• Gary Shover (third), Brian Cain (T7), Phil Fairbanks (T7), Troy Goliber (T7) and Erik Bertalan (10th) are all coming off of top-10s at CCV last year as well. Bryan Smith, the 2016 champ who tied for fifth a year ago, is not in this year's field.

Contact Austin Danforth at 651-4851 or edanforth@freepressmedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @eadanforth.

2019 Vermont Amateur

First round tee times

Tuesday

At Rutland Country Club

7:30 a.m. — Dan Cole, Chris Turley

7:40 a.m. — Sam Myers, Chace Newhouse

7:50 a.m. — Greg Scott, John Franzoni, Nicholas Riina

8 a.m. — Taylor Bellemare, Cory Jozefiak, Nick Ojala

8:10 a.m. — Matt Smith, Eddie Lewicki, Nelson Eaton

8:20 a.m. — Drake Hull, Garren Poirier, Gary Shover

8:30 a.m. — Matt Wilkinson, Stephen Richards, Brian Kelly

8:40 a.m. — Matty Smith, Paul Heffernan, TJ Barber

8:50 a.m. — Nate Godbout, Nicholas Murphy, Ryan Shields

9 a.m. — Troy Goliber, Jay Zanleoni, Jackson Applebaum

9:10 a.m. — Walker Allen, Andrew Merrill, Ryan O'Neill

9:20 a.m. —  Tyler Slusarczyk, Chad Bullock, Stephen Carknard

9:30 a.m. — Seth Anderson, Dan Hogan, Brian Hill

9:40 a.m. — Scott Rankins, William Tate, Rick Simpson

9:50 a.m. —Frankie Sanborn, Erik Bertalan, Ben Spittle

10 a.m. — Harrison Digangi, Brady Hathorn, Curt Hier

10:10 a.m. — Hogan Beazley, Austin Giroux, Kim Perry

10:20 a.m. — Jacob Zaranek, Phil Fairbanks, Erik Lindahl

10:30 a.m. — Harrison Thayer, Logan Ripley, Garett Dukette

10:40 a.m. — Aidan Melville, Ritchie Snow, Brock Paquette

10:50 a.m. — Glen Boggini, Justin Del Bianco, Brett Grigsby

11 a.m. — Logan Broyles, Aaron Wood, Pat Pelletier

11:10 a.m. — Stephen Waite, Steve Merrill, Robert Stewart

11:20 a.m. — Jon Landry, Travis Mott, Ian Watson

11:30 a.m. — Andy Weigand, Eugene Richards, Nicholas Ouellette

11:40 a.m. — Brody Yates, Mitchell Evans, Kyle McLane

11:50 a.m. — Jared Nelson, Eric Lajeunesse, Jake Orr

12 p.m. — Luke Hopkins, Dave Slayton, Brett Roland

12:10 p.m. — Jack Bushee, Robert Wells-Rogers, Ryan Manley

12:20 p.m. — Andrew Dieringer, Andy Hunnewell, Matt Wanderlich

12:30 p.m. — Dylan Otis, Keith Komline, Robbe Robinson

12:40 p.m. — Bryson Richards, Brian Cain, Tyler Parker

12:50 p.m. — Bill Wilkinson, Peter Christenson, Sam Merelman

1 p.m. — Benjamin Lacaillade, Josh Cohen, Christopher Handy