By ALDO AMATO / Staff Writer

PELHAM – A rising senior at Pelham High school has made his way onto the national circuit to compete on one of golf’s premier courses.

Connor Slane, once an alternate, has been selected to play in the upcoming U.S. Junior Amateur at the Golf Club of New England in Stratham, NH.

“It’s such a big tournament,” Slane said. “I haven’t been able to play in a tournament this big so I think we are going to have a lot of fun.”

Slane’s process of selection differs from many of the other contestants. He competed in the U.S. Junior Amateur qualifying tournament at the Birmingham Country Club on June 13.

Following a withdrawal from a fellow contestant, Slane’s said that his alternate tag was removed because he had competed in the strongest field in the country.

“I lost in the playoff to a guy so I was selected as first alternate,” he said. “So they end up taking the first alternate from the strongest field and that was me.”

This will be the furthest that the PHS golfer will travel for a tournament. But he said he is not going to let the distance or big stage intimidate him.

“This tournament is by far the furthest I have had to travel,” he said. “But I’m just going to go out there and play my game and treat it as any other tournament.”

Slane also said it will also be his first time flying.

With his wedge game being his strongest asset, the rising senior said he plans to take home some valuable experience that the U.S. Junior Amateur has to offer.

“It is a great tournament,” he said. “Hopefully I can learn a lot and maybe come back with a win.”