By Dalton Balthaser

 

PORTSMOUTH – Tyler Cooke has had a taste of the challenges that golf can bring. Even for ones with prior success.

 

Just four short years ago, he was the Rhode Island Golf Association Player of the Year and claimed the John P. Burke Memorial.

 

Since then, it has been a lot of close calls and inconsistencies in his game that have left him winless.

 

But the last two days in the Rhode Island Four-Ball, Cooke returned to his happy place. On the course with his brother-in-law Bobby Leopold.

 

The two-time Four-Ball champions (2015-16) of Wannamoisett Country Club put together a final round of 67 to claim the 73rd #RIGAFourBall Tuesday at Green Valley Country Club (par 71, 6,830 yards).

 

Their two-day total of 11 under was good enough for a three-shot victory over Day One leaders and clubmates Mark Wilson and Cole Vieira. Leopold and Cooke shot a round of 7-under-64 Monday at Ledgemont Country Club.

 

“It has been a while since I won an RIGA event,” said Cooke, 30, of Warwick. “When we play together it is always intense. When we made the turn, we were tied. We didn’t know what to expect.”

 

“We could have easily played average today and shot around par,” said Leopold, 37, of Coventry. “The last thing you want to do in these events is to be in a playoff. When we play our best, we can beat most of the teams out here. It was nice to solidify that once again.”

 

They sat deadlocked with Wilson and Vieira at 8 under at the turn until they took the lead on No. 10 (par 5, 613 yards) thanks to Cooke’s length.

 

After blitzing a drive, Cooke had 205 yards left. His club of choice? 9-iron. A helping breeze mixed with firm conditions resulted in a 20-footer for eagle. An easy two-putt birdie.

 

Leopold, the reigning Rhode Island Amateur champion, jumped in with an unlikely birdie on No. 12 (par 3, 147 yards). After missing the green, Leopold had a 30-footer from the fringe with a ton of right-to-left break. The only thing he was thinking was the bottom of the cup.

 

“I was thinking of making that putt,” said Leopold. “I was upset with how we weren’t getting much out of our round. I had only made one birdie to that point, and I wasn’t happy about that. I knew it was time to step up."

 

Leopold added the final blow with a birdie on No. 15 (par 4, 340 yards). He hit a crisp pitch from 58 yards that halted six feet from the cup. 

 

“It wasn't easy today,” said Leopold. “It was windy, and greens were running nice. I haven’t played here in several years, so you forget how long the par 3s are and the lines off the tee. It is not an easy course.”

 

They estimate that they tee it up on about 30 different occasions each year with most of them coming at Wannamoisett. While the years have flown by, not much has changed in their partnership.

 

“I think we are the same partners as we were when we first started,” said Cooke. “It is rare if we are playing together and we select the wrong club. We know each other’s games as well as you can. That’s an advantage for us.”

 

“I have known Ty since he was 11,” said Leopold. “He’s basically my brother. I have seen him go through the awkward high school years and turn into the guy he is today. He’s great to hang out with and he has a great personality. I feel privileged to have him as a member of my family.”

 

The family duo made the quarterfinals of the U.S. Four-Ball at Bandon Dunes Golf Resort in 2019 and has been a strong partnership in this event since they first won in 2015. Time doesn’t stop for anyone. But for Leopold and Cooke, they are going to enjoy this one.

 

“It is nice to get that winning feeling again,” said Cooke. “I look forward to getting another chance later this fall to try and qualify for the U.S. Four-Ball and make another run.”

 

“You never know when that winning feeling comes again,” said Leopold. “You must savor it. Ty is the best partner that I could ask for and having him as my brother-in-law makes it even more special.”