MANCHESTER, N.H. – Junior Matt Paradis (Hooksett, N.H.) of the Southern New Hampshire University men's golf team will live out a life-long dream Monday when he tees it up at the U.S. Amateur Championship, which runs Aug. 13-19 at both Pebble Beach Golf Links and Spyglass Hill Golf Course in Pebble Beach, Calif.
"This is definitely a bucket list tournament for me," Paradis said. "I have always wanted to qualify and play in this tournament with the best amateurs in the world, including all of the [NCAA] Division I Champions."
After falling short each of the last two years, Paradis finally broke through July 16 at Taconic Golf Course in Williamstown, Mass., overcoming 95-degree heat and suffocating humidity to finish third following 36 holes of golf. Paradis was on the course that day for nearly 12 hours, firing a 69 in the opening round, before shooting a 74 to record a 1-over 143 to secure the final qualifying spot.
Paradis is not intimidated by the big stage and looks forward to competing against an impressive field that features 43 of the top 50 amateurs in the world.
"Anything can happen in golf," Paradis said. "I'm going to try and win it. I wouldn't be here if I didn't think I could win. I'm going to look at it like the New Hampshire state tournaments. I want to make the cut, play well and not worry about the rest of the field. I'm going to take it one step at a time."
Treating it like a tournament back home in New Hampshire would be a good start for Paradis, who captured the 115th New Hampshire Amateur Championship at Hanover Country Club on July 8-13 and also finished runner-up at the Stroke Play Championship on July 31-Aug. 2 at Canterbury Woods Country Club.
The stakes at the U.S. Amateur Championships are a bit higher, however, with the two golfers that make next Sunday's final earning exemptions to the 2019 Masters Tournament, U.S. Open Championship and the Open Championship. For Paradis, that would be a nice preview to what he hopes is a successful career.
"I would love to turn pro after graduating and take my game down south where I could practice all year, get better and earn a paycheck playing this game," Paradis said.
Paradis estimates a quarter of the field he will compete against next week could be playing on the PGA Tour in the next two to three years, with some of his competition already having played in Masters and U.S. Open tournaments.
That field consists of 312 players that will be split into two groups of 156 for 36 holes of stroke play before being cut down to 64 players for match play, which will feature days of 18 holes, 36 holes and 36 holes to get down to just two players that will square off in the 36-hole finale.
All of that golf should not be a problem for Paradis, who has played a ton of it over the last month. After playing the nine rounds it took to capture the New Hampshire Amateur Championship on Friday the 13th, Paradis played 27 holes Saturday (July 14) and 18 more Sunday (July 15) to win the Intervale Country Club Member-Guest, before heading down to Taconic, where he qualified for the U.S. Amateur Championship on Monday (July 16).
Paradis' New England road trip continued Tuesday (July 17), arriving at Portland Country Club in Falmouth, Maine, at 2 a.m. for his 7:30 a.m. tee time at the New England Amateur Championship. Paradis slept in the car on the way and then didn't hit the range before the tournament, instead, taking the opportunity to get a quick nap in the parking lot before showing up for his tee time. All he did then was fire a 68 that set the stage for his 2-under 208 that tied him for third, overall. Rain shortened the tournament to 54 holes, bringing to a close Thursday (July 19) a stretch that saw Paradis play 16 rounds of golf in just 12 days.
"I am so used to walking 18 or 36, so it's not too exhausting in the moment," Paradis said. After the round, I'm a little tired. But playing everyday keeps me in the groove, maintains my momentum and keeps my swing consistent."
Paradis saw firsthand what can happen when he takes time off. In his only break of the summer following the New England Amateur, Paradis took a few days to relax before getting back at it Monday, July 23 at the New Hampshire Open, where a combination of that time off, a new driver in his bag and untimely bad luck led to him missing the cut at Stonebridge Country Club.
Paradis rebounded in a big way, however, when he carded a 6-under 282 over 72 holes to tie for second at the Stroke Play Championship. That was Paradis' final tournament before the U.S. Amateur, bringing his final total to 22 rounds in 26 days.
"Since then, I've been practicing," Paradis said. "I'm trying to get in good shape for the U.S. Amateur and get ready for the college season."
Paradis' SNHU season begins Sept. 3 at the Glade Springs Intercollegiate at Glade Springs Golf Course in Daniels, W.Va. For now, however, his focus is on representing the Penmen well out in California.
"I have all my SNHU gear and I'm excited to wear it and represent the University," Paradis said. "I have coach [Matt Arvanitis] coming out for the first two rounds. Knowing that him, my teammates and everyone back home are rooting for me – it's awesome."
Come Monday at 12:45 PDT (3:45 EDT), Paradis will be locked in and focused on what he hopes will be another 180 holes of golf.
"I'm going to stick to myself and play my game," Paradis said. "I love being in this position where no one really knows me. I'm going to battle and try to beat some of the best players in the world."
