By Dalton Balthaser
SWANSEA, MASS. - A trio of players shared medalist honors in Rhode Island Amateur Pre-Qualifying Monday at Swansea Country Club (par 72, 6,415 yards).
Derek Audette of Kirkbrae Country Club, Tim Carroll of Wanumetonomy Golf & Country Club and Lucas Schott of Button Hole Golf Club each shot rounds of 1-over-par 73.
The 116th Rhode Island Amateur Championship will take place July 12-17 at Kirkbrae.
A total of 24 players secured their spot at Kirkbrae with the cut line falling at 79 (7 over).
Audette got off to a hot start after he holed a 9-iron from 154 yards on No. 2 (par 4, 415 yards) for eagle.
“I’ve been feeling good about my game, said Audette, 32, of Cumberland, R.I. “Because of the early spring this year, I have been able to practice more than I usually would at Kirkbrae.”
After a double bogey on No. 7 (par 4, 355 yards) and a bogey on No. 10 (par 4, 335 yards), Audette kicked it back into gear.
He birdied Nos. 14 (par 4, 289 yards) and 17 (par 5, 470 yards) to get in the clubhouse at 1 over.
He rolled in a 6-footer on No. 14 and two-putted from 30 feet for birdie on No. 17. A crisp 5-iron from 208 yards put him in position for an easy two-putt birdie.
The writing is on the wall for Audette. He now gets a home game and a chance to win his first match in the Amateur.
He made match play in the #RIAmateur once, in 2018 at Ledgemont Country Club. He drew Oklahoma All-American Patrick Welch in the first round and fell, 5&4.
“I am really excited to tee it up in the Amateur at my home club,” said Audette. “I feel like I am flying under the radar because Kirkbrae has so many good players who have accomplished a lot at the state level. I am hoping to have a big Kirkbrae contingency in match play this year.”
Carroll was looking like the only player to finish the day below par, but a closing double bogey on No. 18 (par 4, 421 yards) pushed him to 1 over.
He had quite the scorecard, some would call it psycho. Three double bogeys, six birdies and one bogey. That leaves eight pars if you are counting at home.
“I need to do a better job of hitting fairways and limiting my mistakes,” said Carroll, 28, of Bristol, R.I. “When I made mistakes today, I wasn’t committed to the shot I was about to play, and it cost me on a couple of holes. But I made it through and that’s all that matters.”
Carroll has never made it past the stroke play portion in his Amateur appearances. But he has more motivation than ever to get that monkey off his back. His home club is set to host the 117th edition in 2022.
“It’s always been my goal to make match play,” said Carroll. “Especially with Wanumetonomy scheduled to host it in 2022, this is the time for me to do it, so I don’t have to go through pre-qualifying next year.”
Schott, a caddie at Newport Country Club, missed match play by one stroke last year at Pawtucket Country Club.
He’s hungry for another shot. But his score today was an anomale from what he’d been seeing.
“I haven’t been feeling good about my game at all,” said Schott, 27, of Warren, R.I. “I was playing well a few weeks ago and was shooting in the high 60s and low 70s. Then suddenly, I couldn’t break 80 and I was worried. I am happy I played well today.
While he’ll be heading to an unfamiliar venue, Schott is more than ready to take that next step.
“I learned that my best rounds have been coming in competition,” said Schott. “I just need to stick to my routine. Sticking to that routine showed me that I could compete with the best players when it matters most. I am looking forward to July.”