July 16, 2009

While many college freshman arrange their college schedules to "sleep in'' most of the week, Merrimack's Peter Reilly was up at 5:30 each morning.

It wasn't to cram for a test or do last minute homework. It was for a couple of hours of strenuous military training.

Reilly's freshman year at the United States Naval Academy was a constant test of physical and mental endurance. In some ways, so was his first round of match play Wednesday in the 105th New Hampshire Golf Association Amateur Championship.

After just five holes, Reilly trailed his opponent John Gimas of Concord by three holes. But as another Navy man - John Paul Jones - once said, Reilly had "not yet begun to fight.''

The battle lasted until the 18th hole, where Reilly, fighting an uphill struggle all morning, rolled in a par putt to win the hole and the match. It was the first time he led all day.

For the complete article by Gary Fitz of the Nashua (N.H.) Telegraph click here