2016 Senior Amateur
| Triggs Memorial GC September 13-14 | ||
| | Gross Final Results - Net Final Results Super Seniors: Gross - Net Legends: Gross - Net Final Recap By Paul Kenyon PROVIDENCE _ At age 71, Paul Quigley is still finding new ways to win golf tournaments. As it is, Quigley has won more events than anyone in the RIGA’s 114-year history, so many that he has lost count. He was not even sure, until someone told him, how many times he has won the Senior Amateur. After what he did Wednesday at Triggs, the count is now up to seven in that event alone. Quigley added his latest crown by coming from behind and firing an even-par 72 for a 36-hole total of 2-over 146. That was one shot better than 2011 champion Tom Acciardo and three ahead of Eric Ahlborg and Dean Parziale. Ahlborg had the lowest round of the tournament, a 68 that included six birdies, while Parziale had a 75 for their 149 totals. The day was a wild one in several ways. Not one, but two RIGA presidents, current president Vin Cavallaro and former president Steve Sampson, earned hardware by capturing their division net titles. It also was a day in which the players won a race with the weather. A beautiful day became heavily overcast late in the afternoon as the final groups were finishing. At one point with the last several groups still on the course, lightning was spotted in the distance and light rain began to fall. However, association officials were monitoring radar weather reports throughout and allowed play to continue because radar indicated the storm would stay south of the course, which it did. By tournament’s end, Quigley had become the story as he has so often in the past 40 years. Because of the way he won, he was far more excited than he usually is even after a victory. Never before has he spent time talking about an eagle, and a near-eagle, as they keys to his victory. He has won with precision, not power, through his career. At 5-feet-6 and 140 pounds at 71-years-old, he does not have the power of many in the field. But Triggs has two relatively short par-5s on the back and they turned the tide in his favor. ``I almost had two eagles,’’ he said excitedly. ``On 13 (442 yards uphill) I had a 12-footer. A tough putt downhill.’’ He missed it and settled for bird. Two holes later, at the 495-yard 15th, he not only got home in two, his second shot came to rest only three feet from the hole. He got his eagle there. He spoke about how his work will give him great glee with his family. “When we talk about par-5s, my brother (Dana, the long time Champions Tour star) and my son (Brett, the former PGA Tour regular) don’t even want to hear me. They tell me, “You can’t reach any par 5,” Quigley related. “I don’t know if I’m even going to tell them what I did.” The work on the par 5s helped Quigley play the last 11 holes in 2-under-par. As it was, he trailed Acciardo, the first-day co-leader, much of the way. Acciardo went out in 35 and had the lead most of the day. But he drove into trouble on the par-4 16th and suffered a double bogey to fall behind by one. When he parred both 17 and 18 he came up one shot short of Quigley the eagle maker. Quigley had become the oldest player to advance through qualifying for next week’s USGA Senior Amateur Championship in St. Louis, but he has decided to stay home and compete instead in the New England Seniors. That event will be held at Crestwood, the course where his brother was the head pro before joining the Champions Tour. Beyond Quigley’s work, the day featured a double rarity in having current or former RIGA presidents win titles. Current president Dr. Cavallaro recorded a net 68 (77 with a nine handicap) to finish at 2-under142 and win the net title in the Legends Division for players aged 68 and older. Former president Steve Sampson had a net 72 (80 with an eight handicap) and edged Karl Augenstein by one stroke, 140-141, for the net title in the Super Seniors (for those aged 62-67). Steven Heath of Jamestown won the overall net title at 70-69_ 139. Acciardo took the Super Seniors gross with his 147 and Quigley the Legends gross where still another former RIGA president, Peter McBride, was second at 156. Round 1 Recap By Paul Kenyon PROVIDENCE _ For a basketball player, Joe Hassett has become a very good golfer. The former Providence College star and NBA champion had his best day yet in RIGA competition on Tuesday, firing a 1-over 73 at Triggs to tie for the lead in the 58th Senior Amateur Championship. Tom Acciardo, the 2011 champion, and frequent contender Dave McNally also had 73s to earn a share of the top spot. Paul Quigley, who has won this event six times among his many RIGA titles, Metacomet’s Dean Parziale, RICC’s Dave Patrick and Wannamoisett’s Donald Gallagher had 74s to be just one off the lead heading into Wednesday’s second and final round. With so many long time contenders near the top, Hassett will not be favored to win since he is the new guy on the block in this competition. But after one of Rhode Island’s great basketball careers at La Salle Academy, Providence College and the NBA, including in Seattle where he helped the Sonics win the championship in 1979, Hassett will be accustomed to being in the championship chase, even if it is a different sport. Hassett sounded like a typical golfer when he finished his round Tuesday, lamenting the fact that his score was not lower. ``I missed a three-footer on one, a three-footer on two and a three-footer on four,’’ he said with a shake of his head. ``They were all for pars.’’ He also bogeyed the par-5 10th, so he was 4-over as he stood on the 13th tee. It turned into a lot of fun from there as his sweet shooting SONAR got turned on, this time on the greens. ``I made four birdies in a row,’’ he said. They came on 13, 14, 15 and 16. ``The last one was the best,’’ said Don Wright, the defending tournament champion who was one of his playing partners. ``That one was a double 3-pointer. It had to be about 50 feet.’’ That got Hassett back to even, which is where he stayed until he 18. ``I made bogey from 125 yards,’’ he related. ``Left it short and three-putted.’’ Acciardo, who already has won the Senior Four-Ball this year with partner George Pirie, also was disappointed with his finish. He had four birds and was 1-under going to the par-4 17th. ``I pulled my drive left and had to take an unplayable,’’ he said. ``I made double.’’ McNally had the steadiest round of the leaders. His 73 included three bogeys and two birdies. ``It was there for the taking,’’ he said, referring to the beautiful day, the excellent course conditions and the relatively mild course set-up provided by RIGA officials. ``I had a lot of six-inch putts for pars. I had my chances to make more (birdies). But I didn’t make a putt over six feet all day.’’ Quigley did not shoot his age as he has done several times already in competition this summer. But the 71-year-old put himself in good position by going 1-under over his last 11 holes after a slow start. Quigley also reported that he has withdrawn from next week’s USGA Senior Amateur, to be held in St. Louis. He was slated to be the second oldest player to take part in that event. The only one older is 73-year-old Vinny Giles. Giles, however, did not qualify as Quigley did. Giles has an exemption as a past champion (2007). ``It’s being held at the same time as the New England Seniors,’’ Quigley noted. ``The New Englands are so easy to get to (They are being played at Crestwood, the course where his brother, Dana, was the pro for so long). With the nationals, it’s a hassle getting out there. It’s not like I’ve never played before. It’s the fourth time I’ve qualified, so I decided to stay home.’’ Also in USGA competition, the two members of the RIGA who were still alive in the Mid-Am Championship being held in Pennsylvania, four-time champion Brad Valois and 2014 champ Kevin Silva, both were eliminated in the second round of match play. Pawtucket’s Kyle Hoffman also qualified for match play in that event, winning a 14-man playoff for the final spot. He lost to the medalist in the first round. General Information Cart and Range - Fees were included in entry. Food & Beverage - Lunch after round 1 was included in entry fee. Food on day 2 will be available on a cash basis. Directions - To Triggs Memorial GC
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