By Dalton Balthaser

 

PAWTUCKET - History will be made at the conclusion of Saturday’s Final of the 115th Rhode Island Golf Association Amateur Championship.

 

The type of history is yet to be determined.

 

Defending champion Andrew O’Leary and 2017 Finalist Jamie Lukowicz advanced to the 36-hole Final of the 115th #RIAmateur Saturday at Pawtucket Country Club (par 69, 6,420 yards).

 

O’Leary, the No. 1 seed, defeated No. 4 seed Kevin Silva of Montaup Country Club, 3&2. Lukowicz, the No. 3 seed defeated two-time champion Bobby Leopold, the No. 2 seed, of Wannamoisett Country Club, 1-up in Friday's semifinal matches.

 

“It feels nice to be in the Final again,” said O’Leary, 20, of Norfolk, Mass. “I felt like today was a little less stressful because I had some confidence in my game.”

 

O’Leary, a rising junior at the University of Notre Dame took advantage of his length off the tee. After being 1-up through 10, O’Leary stepped up to the tee on No. 11 (par 4, 309 yards) and drove the green. 

 

He two-putted from 25 feet for birdie. Silva laid up off the tee and couldn’t make birdie. 

 

When he saw the tee up on No. 12 (par 4, 314 yards), a club other than driver didn’t enter his mind. 

 

O’Leary bombed his driver to 10 feet and two-putted again for an easy birdie and Silva missed a short birdie look of his own.

 

“Today was the best I hit my driver in the entire tournament,” said O’Leary, of the host club. “When I missed the fairway, I only missed by a couple of yards. I knew I was going to hit driver on No. 11 but I didn’t know about No. 12 until I got there and saw the tees moved up. You put a lot of pressure on your opponent when you have back-to-back eagle putts.”

 

Lukowicz outlasted Leopold to get to his second Final in the last four years. He lost to Wannamoisett’s Billy Forcier in 2017 at Valley Country Club, 3&2.

 

The last time Lukowicz and Leopold played each other in the Amateur, Leopold won in 22 holes in the 113th edition at Ledgemont Country Club. That match was in the Round of 16. Not for a spot in the Final.

 

“You can’t make bogeys against Bobby,” said Lukowicz, 46, of Newport. “I wasn’t as aggressive with the putter as I needed to be. I was a little hesitant when Bobby was in trouble just trying to ease it to the hole.”

 

A halve in bogeys on No. 13 (par 3, 186 yards) was one that could’ve haunted Lukowicz. With Leopold short sided in the right greenside bunker, Lukowicz had 35 feet for birdie. But he three-putted. Keeping the door open for Leopold. 

 

Leopold halved the match with a birdie on No. 14 (par 4, 375 yards). But Lukowicz, of Agawam Hunt, got it right back on No. 15 (par 3, 170 yards) with his best shot of the day to four feet with an 8-iron. Then they halved the next three holes.

 

Leopold missed a 10-footer on No. 18 (par 4, 379 yards) to extend the match.

 

“My game overall is better than it was in 2017,” said Lukowicz. “You learn things every year about your game. I wasn’t prepared to play Billy in 2017. The weather was hot all week and then a storm came in and cooled it down dramatically. Saturday will be warm. I will be mentally prepared. It’s going to be a long day.”

 

Plenty of history is at stake. O’Leary is looking to become the 13th player to win at least two-consecutive Rhode Island Amateurs as well as the latest player to win the Amateur at his home club. The last player to win two-consecutive titles was Brad Valois in 2006-07.

 

The last to do so? Mike Soucy in 2001 when he defeated Charlie Blanchard, 3&2, at Metacomet Golf Club.

 

For Lukowicz, winning would mean a giant monkey off his back. He has won the Rhode Island Stroke Play (2018), the Rhode Island Mid-Amateur (2014-15) and the John P. Burke (Gross) (2019). But the Amateur is the last notch missing in his belt.

 

“It’ll be a fun match,” said Lukowicz. “If I go after each pin and make bogeys, that is fine. To beat Andrew you need to make birdies. I’m thinking playing in the Final for the second time would be easier. I play Pawtucket well.”

 

“Keeping my energy up tomorrow will be the biggest challenge,” said O’Leary. “Making sure I am eating and drinking enough. I don’t want to waste too much energy mentally. It is a marathon and I want to keep a level head.

 

“It would mean a lot to win this event again and do it for all the members of Pawtucket Country Club. Some of them may come and watch. After they play golf themselves, of course.”

 

The 36-hole Final will begin at 7:30 a.m. Saturday.