Trio bound for R.I. Golf Hall of Fame

Joe Sprague, the man who guided the R.I. Golf Association into the successful operation it has become, George Pirie, one of the winningest players in RIGA history and Elizabeth Gordon, a six-time winner of the R.I. Women’s Golf Association Championship, have been named to the R.I. Golf Association Hall of Fame.

They will be honored at a dinner on Nov. 27 at Pawtucket Country Club. The dinner, the RIGA’s annual season-ending awards event, also will honor Ed Mauro and Elizabeth `Lib` McLaughlin for distinguished service to golf in the state.

Sprague, who died in 2004, was an excellent player for many years, once reaching the State Amateur final. But his biggest impact came as executive director of the association, a sport in which he brought expanded programs for players of all levels. He was known for the class and evenhandedness in his dealings.

As Hall of Famer Paul Quigley said upon his death, “Joe Sprague was the man who took golf out of the good-old boys club and gave everybody a fair shot.”

Pirie, the golfing periodontist, has piled up 14 state titles, the State Amateur three times, Mid-Amateur once, Four-Ball three times, two Burke Memorials, three Father-Sons, the Senior Four-Ball and Senior Amateur once apiece.

Gordon was the first great women’s player in the state. She won each of the first five R.I. Women’s Golf Association Championships, from 1916 to 1920 and then again in 1924.

Mauro is a former State Amateur champion (1965) and former RIGA president who is perhaps best known as the prime mover behind the Button Hole Short Course and Teaching Center. McLaughlin not only was longtime RIWGA official, including two terms as president, she also served for many years as a USGA official.

Newport National team best

A team from Newport National, headed by director of golf John Simmons, has won a national championship.

The Newport National team, representing the New England PGA, put together a total of 39-under-par 391 to win the PGA’s inaugural McGladrey Team Championship at the Pinehurst Resort. The competition was two best balls of the foursome with the three amateurs using 50 percent of their handicap. Brothers Andrew and Jamie Farrea and 17-year-old Tod Camara, a Portsmouth High student, made up the championship team.

Newport National won by three over the Northern California team. The victory earned $16,000 for Simmons while amateur players earned merchandise certificates. The total purse was $200,000.

The McGladrey tournament is a partnership between the national PGA organization and RSM McGladrey, the official accounting, tax and business consulting firm of The PGA of America.

Spence wins N.Y. tourney

Scott Spence has never enjoyed a trip back home as much as he did this last time.

Spence, the director of instruction at Carnegie Abbey, is a native of Cooperstown, N.Y. He returned there to take part in the 25th Otesaga Hotels Senior Open, a $100,000 three-day event that draws a strong field.

It turned into an emotional trip as Spence fired rounds of 65-73-68 to win the $20,000 first-place check. Spence, who turned 50 last year to become eligible, nipped Roy Vucinich by one stroke.

“My parents’ ashes are out on the 18th tee box,” Spence said at the awards ceremony. “We grew up here, we were raised here. It’s a big place in my heart. It’s easy to come back and play golf.”

Spence took the lead with his opening 65, the lowest round in the event and fell back into a tie for the lead after the second round before closing strongly.

“I think my mom and dad were throwing a little power my way, or birdies — whatever it is,” he said. “I think we have to find a place out here for the summer.” Playing the Leatherstocking course he grew up on made the title that much better. He learned the game on the course from longtime pro Eddie Kroll.

“He was my teacher, my idol,” Spence said. “He’s a great man.”

Among others, baseball Hall of Famer Mike Schmidt, who plays regularly on the Celebrity Golf Tour, finished 26th at 220.

Adams Cup set Sept. 25-26

Teams from 12 different conferences will take part in the 14th Adams Cup of Newport/Cleveland Golf Classic Sept. 25-26 at Newport National.

The participants are Brown, Connecticut, Francis Marion, Furman, Georgetown, Long Beach State, Louisiana-Lafayette, Maryland, Pacific, South Carolina-Aiken, Southern Mississippi, Texas-San Antonio, Wichita State and Yale.

URI finished second in the event last year to South Florida. . .

A correction from a story in this column two weeks ago. Kay Bullock, who heads to Texas next week as part of the Rhode Island team in the USGA’s national Team Championship, is not the first black female to win a state title in Rhode Island. The late Nathalie Price, one of the co-founders of the Ocean State Women’s Golf Association, won the state women’s Public Links four times. . .

Brett Quigley has had his knee surgery and begun a rehab program at R.I. Hospital. Quigley, currently 106th on the PGA Tour money list, is likely out for the season, although it is possible he might be able to return for the last one or two events in November.

Bob Ward, the executive director of the RIGA, was part of a special performance at a charity tournament at Triggs last week. The event was a scramble and Ward’s team used Jim Buckner’s drive on the par-5 15th hole. Hitting from that spot, Ward hit a seven-wood into the hole for a double eagle for the team. The event was two best balls of foursome. Joe Pieranunzi, one of the volunteer assistants for Ward with the RIGA, hit his second into the greenside bunker — and then holed it for an eagle, meaning the team was 5-under for the hole.

[email protected]