By Dalton Balthaser

 

SWANSEA, MASS. – Playing competitive golf can be stressful. But for Nate Winsor it is much more relaxing than it used to be.

 

Winsor is in his ninth year as a fireman in East Providence, R.I. and faces high-pressure situations each time he walks into the firehouse. Golf has become a bit of a respite for him.

 

“Working as a fireman, you learn about pressure,” said Winsor, 36, of Seekonk, Mass. “Playing golf is nothing close to being as pressure-filled as I feel when I walk into the firehouse. But being a fireman has taught me how to channel those emotions. I am so happy to be able to play golf.”

 

Winsor, aided by his sharp short game, shared medalist honors with Geoff Burgess in a Rhode Island Amateur Pre-Qualifier Wednesday at Swansea Country Club (par 72, 6,415 yards).

 

The 117th Rhode Island Amateur Championship will take place July 11-15 at Wanumetonomy Golf & Country Club.

 

A total of 22 players secured their spot at Wanumetonomy with the cut line falling at 78 (6 over).

 

This #RIAmateur Pre-Qualifier is the first of three with one at Cranston Country Club on June 8 and Foster Country Club on June 15.

 

“I’ve gotten tired of grinding in these events,” said Winsor. “I found myself playing too conservative and always ending up sweating out the cutline. Playing in a qualifier is much different than a regular tournament. I am just looking to qualify but in the back of my mind I want to be medalist.”

 

Winsor, of Crestwood Country Club, played steady golf. 15 pars, two bogeys and one birdie. 

 

His lone birdie came on No. 5 (par 4, 342 yards) after he hit a 54-degree wedge from 107 yards to five feet.

 

“I practice here quite a bit when I am not at Crestwood,” said Winsor. “For a public golf course, the greens here are always in phenomenal condition. They take such great care of the course. I feel comfortable here.

 

“I don’t chase a lot of flags here. You don’t need to go low to qualify. If you avoid big numbers, you’ll have a chance. I just need to stick to my game. I take pride in my short game, and it keeps me in a lot of rounds.”

 

Winsor hasn’t made match play in his previous attempts when competing in the Rhode Island Amateur. But that doesn’t mean he hasn’t learned anything from those experiences. 

 

He said being at Crestwood has been huge for his game. Past #RIAmateur semifinalist Kolby Simmons and reigning #RIMidAm champion Jordan Amorin reign from there and the trio play a lot of golf together. Winsor credits them for helping him find his way in competitive golf.

 

“I need to try and free up my swing,” said Winsor. “Competitive golf always gets your brain to do things you usually wouldn’t do. I must focus on sticking to my gameplan and having fun. I have learned that you don’t gain much on the field ball-striking wise. It all comes down to the short game.”

 

Burgess shot 82 when he played here Monday in a practice round. Not the most encouraging way to head into a competitive round.

 

“I’ve been struggling recently,” said Burgess, 44, of North Attleboro. “I knew that I had something in me after shooting 1 over at Crystal Lake last week. I just hadn’t seen it often.”

 

A tale of two rounds, indeed. Burgess said knowing he didn’t have to go crazy low to qualify helped ease his tension and nerves after struggling on Monday.

 

He birdied Nos. 2 (par 5, 522 yards) and 17 (par 5, 470 yards). Rolling in a 5-footer on both occasions.

 

“Pars will get it done,” said Burgess, of Crystal Lake Golf Club. “Today my goals were to make no double bogeys, no three-putts and no bogeys on par 5s. I was able to accomplish all of those things and for me that will keep my scores down.”

 

“The mistake I made the first few times I qualified here was trying to hit my approach shots pin high. At most courses that is ideal. But at Swansea, that means you have putts that break a lot and are nearly impossible to make. I left myself below the hole quite a bit today, which makes things easier.”

 

Burgess missed out on match play in last year’s #RIAmateur by a shot. He said that made him hungrier to get back and make match play for the first time.

 

“I feel like I am a good match play competitor,” said Burgess. “I wear guys down with pars. All I need to do it make match play and I feel like I have a chance to win a match or two.”