By Dalton Balthaser

 

EAST PROVIDENCE – Age is just a number.

 

For Rhode Island Golf Association Hall of Famer Paul Quigley, it’s a number he intends on beating each time he plays golf.

 

The 75-year-old continued to prove why he’s one of the RIGA’s all-time best. He carded a bogey-free 69 to take the Day One lead of the 62nd Senior Amateur Tuesday at Triggs Memorial Golf Course (par 72, 6,302 yards).

 

Besting his age by six.

 

“I attribute it to keeping myself in good shape all of these years,” said Quigley, of Barrington. “I still love to compete and see where I stand against everyone. We have seniors that are 20 years younger than I am.”

 

“Shooting your age in a stroke play event is when it counts. Every putt has to go in the hole. I’ve broken my age since I was 68. It doesn’t mean much but it’s fun to do.”

 

That is not the only thing he's broken this year. 

 

“I broke my finger the Wednesday before the Four-Ball in June,” said Quigley. “I haven’t played well all summer. It makes it quite hard to square the clubface with my right hand. The hand was the best it has felt in the last two months. I ice it four to five times a day.

 

“I would rather play badly with an injury than sit at home wishing I was playing.”

 

Coming off his best individual performance of the year at the Senior Division of the Rhode Island Mid-Amateur, Quigley has got himself in a late-season groove. His tie for eighth has got his game in a better frame of mind.

 

Better late than never, right?

 

Quigley, of Green Valley Country Club, started off steady. He parred the first 11 holes. Then the red numbers started to flow.

 

A beautiful 5-hybrid on No. 12 (par 3, 195 yards) to six feet was the catalyst.

 

Then a beautiful splash from the greenside bunker on No. 15 (par 5, 495 yards) to three feet put him at 2 under. 

 

Quigley got a great break on No. 16 (par 4, 304 yards). His approach caught the rough surrounds of the greenside bunker. But a generous bounce onto the green left him 20 feet. He rammed it off the flagstick for his final birdie of the day. 

 

Quigley’s son Brett was leading the PGA TOUR Champions money list at one point this season. He currently sits fourth after his win at the Morocco Champions in early February. But Brett’s success has motivated Paul to keep his game in shape. 

 

“Brett’s success this year on the PGA TOUR Champions has nudged me a little bit,” said Quigley. “In the Quigley family, it is all about bragging rights. In Amateur golf, I have a few but Brett and my brother Dana are good players. It’s nice to throw a jab in there once and awhile.”

 

Quigley is a seven-time champion of the #RISrAm (2001, 2003-05, 2009, 2012, 2016). No. 8 isn’t on his mind right now.

 

“The key is making a couple of good par saves,” said Quigley. “Those are the ones that keep the momentum of the round going. As far as winning tomorrow, that is the farthest thing from my mind. I am going to play the golf course, hit my shots and add up my score at the end and see what happens.”