Rhode Island Golf Association
115th AMATEUR CHAMPIONSHIP FACT SHEET
July 13-18, 2020
Pawtucket Country Club
Par/Yardage – Par 69, 6,500 yards.
Architect/Founded – Willie Park, Jr., 1924.
2019 champion – Andrew O’Leary, of Pawtucket, defeated Bobby Leopold, of Wannamoisett Country Club, 3&1, at Shelter Harbor Golf Club.
Format – A 36-hole qualifier, 18 holes on Monday and Tuesday, to determine the 32 players who will advance to match play. Match play will take place Wednesday, Thursday and Friday culminating in a 36-hole final on Saturday.
Time – Tee times begin at 7:30 a.m. Monday and Tuesday and at 7:30 a.m. for the remainder of the Championship.
The start – The Rhode Island Amateur Championship began in 1902. That year, Eben Byers, of Misquamicut Golf Club defeated C.D. Mercer, of Wannamoisett, 9&7, at Wannamoisett.
Eligibility – Open to male Member Club golfers or Rhode Island residents with a USGA Handicap Index of 12.0 or lower.
Field – The field will consist of 126 of the best amateur golfers in the RIGA’s territory. Of that total, 78 earned berths into the Amateur Championship as a result of stroke-play qualifying at Cranston Country Club on June 15, Green Valley Country Club on June 17 and Fenner Hill Golf Club on June 2. There were 24 qualifying positions plus ties (27) available at Cranston, 20 plus ties (23) at Green Valley and 26 plus ties (28) at Fenner Hill. The rest of the competitors were exempt on defined criteria.
The Upper Echelon – Daniel Fairchild has notched the most #RIAmateur titles with six (1907, 1909, 1916, 1918-19, 1921). The duo of Robert W. Allen (1949-1950, 1958-60) and Cameron P. Quinn (1956, 1962, 1966-67, 1971) are next in line with five titles. Kings Crossing Golf Club’s Brad Valois (2006-07, 2011, 2013) can join the duo of Allen and Quinn at five with a win at Pawtucket.
Past Champions – Past Amateur champions in the field include Paul Quigley of Green Valley Country Club (1986-87, 1991); Dr. George Pirie of Valley Country Club (1989, 1994, 2004); Mike Soucy of Valley (1999, 2001, 2003); Ben Tuthill of Wannamoisett (2000); Tom McCormick of Kirkbrae Country Club (2005); Brad Valois of Kings Crossing (2006-07, 2011, 2013); Bobby Leopold of Wannamoisett (2009, 2014) and Kevin Silva of Montaup Country Club (2015).
Back-to-Back – O’Leary is looking to become the 13th player to win at least two consecutive Amateur titles. The others? G.A. Pope, Jr. (1905-06), Daniel Fairchild (1918-19), T.S. Tailer, Jr. (1930-32), John P. Burke (1934-36), Stan Koslowski (1946-47), Robert Allen (1949-50, 1958-60), Robert Kosten (1952-53), Cameron Quinn (1966-67), Brad Faxon (1981-82), Paul Quigley (1986-87), Joe Iaciofano (1997-1998), and Brad Valois (2006-07).
No Place Like Home – A total of 11 players will be looking to win the Amateur at their home club. The last time someone won the Amateur on their home course was when Mike Soucy defeated Charlie Blanchard, 3&1, at Metacomet Golf Club in 2001.
Course hole-by-hole –
Holes 1–9
No. 1, 389-yard, par 4; No. 2, 416-yard, par 4; No. 3, 379-yard, par 4; No. 4, 380-yard, par 4; No. 5, 188-yard, par 3; No. 6, 414-yard, par 4; No. 7, 173-yard, par 3; No. 8, 542-yard, par 5; No. 9, 449-yard, par 4. Totals: 3,330 yards/par 35.
Holes 10-18
No. 10, 435-yard, par 4; No. 11, 308-yard, par 4; No. 12, 451-yard, par 4; No. 13, 186-yard, par 3; No. 14, 375-yard, par 4; No. 15, 170-yard, par 3; No. 16, 432-yard, par 4; No. 17, 434-yard, par 4; No. 18, 379-yard, par 4. Totals: 3,170 yards/par 34.
Pawtucket Country Club Contact Information- Club Phone: 401-725-2918
Address: 900 Armistice Blvd, Pawtucket, RI 02861
All media inquiries – Contact Dalton Balthaser, Manager of Communications, at 401-272-1350 (office) or 484-769-0112 (cell), or at dbalthaser@rigalinks.org (email) in advance for COVID-19 rules and tournament information.