New England Amateur: Regional championship returns to Vermont for 2019

Drake Hull has owned the top spot in Vermont golf for three years running.

This week, he gets another crack at the New England crown and doesn't even have to leave home to do it.

The 90th New England Amateur Championship begins Tuesday at The Quechee Club where Hull, fresh off his third consecutive Vermont Am triumph, is firmly among the chief contenders for reasons beyond his recent form.

The University of Connecticut star, who tees off for his first round at 1:29 p.m., snagged second at last year's New England Amateur in Portland, Maine, two shots behind eventual winner Reese McFarlane — and McFarlane isn't in this year's field to defend his title.

More:Vermont Amateur: Drake Hull seals 3-peat at Rutland Country Club

Want another reason?

Hull nearly won the 2018 New England Open at Quechee. Tied with Braden Shattuck at 8-under after 36 holes, Hull fell short on the first playoff hole to take second place.

Evan Russell was the last of three Vermonters to win the regional championship, doing so at Green Mountain National in 2013. This will be Quechee's fifth time hosting the regional event, which rotates between six states.

Other local golfers poised to make a splash this week include Pat Pelletier, a Quechee member, who finished fourth behind Hull in this month's Vermont Amateur at Rutland. Pelletier tied for the low amateur competitor (3-under, 10th place) in the 2019 New England Open on his home course.

More:Vermont Amateur: Drake Hull cruises to 66, four-shot lead in first round

Vermont Amateur runners-up Jacob Zaranek (Brattleboro) and Bryson Richards (Barre) are also in the field this week. Richards dueled with Hull for most of the final day at Rutland Country Club before a costly double-bogey on the tournament's 71st hole all but clinched the title for the hometown favorite

Rutland's Jared Nelson and Garren Poirier, both top-10 finishers at the Vermont Amateur earlier this month, are also part of the 15-man contingent of Vermonters in play this week.

The field of 144 golfers will play 18 holes Tuesday and Wednesday, with the low 40 scorers and ties advancing to Thursday's 36-hole finale.

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

90th New England Amateur Championship

Where: The Quechee Club

When: Tuesday-Thursday

Format: 72 holes stroke play

Defending champion: Reese McFarlane (Maine)