By Dalton Balthaser

 

SEEKONK, MA. – Nick Hedden’s inner voice told him to leave his driver in the trunk of his car. He threw it in there, slammed the trunk and walked away.

 

For Hedden, the driver is an agitating club that has had his number for his entire life. He tinkers and tries new methods but has struggled to find success.

 

Driverless, Hedden carded a round of 67 to grab the Day One lead of the 28th Rhode Island Mid-Amateur Monday at Ledgemont Country Club (par 71, 6,801 yards).

 

Crestwood Country Club’s Jordan Amorin is in second after a bogey-free 69. 

 

The cut fell at 80.

 

“I left my driver in the trunk of my car today,” said Hedden. “I can’t chance doing something stupid. I think that is why I played well today. Leaving it in the trunk means I don’t get tempted to hit it.”

 

Hedden still gives his 3-wood a mighty lash and can keep up distance-wise. 

 

“The biggest key for me to be successful is to keep the ball in play,” said Hedden. “That has been the biggest issue in my golf game for as long as I can remember.”

 

He got off to an ideal start by birdieing Nos. 1 (par 5, 475 yards) and 2 (par 4, 350 yards). He two-putted from 40 feet for birdie on the first and hit a lob wedge from 108 yards to five feet on the second.

 

You can birdie them all if you don’t birdie the first two, right?

 

“I am in shock honestly,” said Hedden. “To be able to shoot 67 in a tournament is cool. It’s the best tournament round I have ever had. It’s a huge confidence booster.”

 

He rolled in a 25-footer on No. 6 (par 3, 212 yards) and made the turn in three under. 

 

He added birdies on Nos. 12 (par 3, 186 yards), 16 (par 4, 435 yards) and 18 (par 4, 420 yards). He stuffed an 8-iron to four feet on No. 12, rolled in a 25-footer on No. 16 and closed it out in style with a 35-footer on the last.

 

“I made a lot of putts today,” said Hedden. “This winter I got a new putter and I feel so much better rolling the ball. I feel like I can’t miss inside five feet.”

 

Hedden is a full-time caddy at Shelter Harbor Golf Club in Charlestown. His summer has been quite busy. He said he’s been looping six days a week, which hasn’t left him with much time to play. But a break in the action last week helped him get ready for the #RIMidAm.

 

“I was able to get some days off last week from caddying,” said Hedden, of Connecticut National. “I went with some of my friends, and we played Fenner Hill Golf Club and Connecticut National. I shot 69 at Fenner Hill and played well at Connecticut National. That gave me the confidence to believe in myself and my game today. I don’t think I played seven rounds total this year. And most of them came in the last week.”

 

Hedden was a quarterfinalist in the 114th Rhode Island Amateur at Shelter Harbor back in 2019. This will be his first opportunity like this to win a tournament. He said he’s mentally ready.

 

“The biggest key for me will be to keep rolling in putts,” said Hedden, 27, of Waterford, Conn. “I didn’t hit one golf shot before the round today. It’s just easier for me to ease into the round without placing added stress worrying about how I am hitting it on the range. I am ready for the challenge tomorrow will bring.”

 

Senior Division

 

Agawam Hunt’s Dean Parziale and Valley Country Club's Dr. George Pirie share the lead in the Senior Division with a rounds of even-par 71 at Ledgemont (par 71, 6,008 yards).

 

Mike Soucy of Valley Country Club sits in third at 2-over-par.

 

A total of 20 seniors made the cut with scores of 80 or better.