An Impressive Field for Senior Amateur Championship
By Joe McDonald
RIGA Senior Writer
PAWTUCKET – When nearly every golfer is half-jokingly discussing their variety of body ailments on the first tee, then it must be a senior tournament.
That was the case for the 65th Rhode Island Senior Amateur Championship Monday at Pawtucket Country Club.
Despite the smell of Icy Hot and mosquito repellent, it’s once again an impressive field.
A total of seven past champions are competing, including Tim Murray (2022), Derek Johnson (2021), Rob Grossguth (2020), Hermen Dacones (2018), Paul Quigley (2001, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2009, 2012, 2016), Dr. George Pirie (2006, 2014) and Don Wright (2015). It makes the tournament both challenging and fun when there’s so much talent.
“It’s awesome, and I’m one of them, which makes it even better,” Grossguth said with a smile. “As you get older, competition doesn’t stop, everybody can play. Everybody wants to play well. Everyone is here to win. I’m here to win.”
“It means you better play well,” said Murray, who is the defending champion. “I played with Doc (Pirie) today and it was like going to class. He’s so classy. He hits everything down the middle. I had a great time with him. I really enjoyed it. He’s a really nice guy and learned a lot, too. I felt like I was in college again.”
Murray shot a 75, while Pirie (71), Wright (71), Quigley (77), Johnson (68), Grossguth (76) and Dacones (73) all shot well. It helps the younger seniors when the seasoned veterans still play well.
“Hope,” Murray said with a laugh. “It gives you hope. I picked (Pirie’s) brain the whole way around. He must’ve been sick of me asking questions. He has no problem helping anybody. It was fun playing with him.”
In the 2023 Rhode Island State Amateur, Murray played with defending champion, Kevin Blaser, along with three-time Junior Amateur champion, Max Jackson. It was an interesting pairing with all three champions.
“Every time I play in one of these things, I usually get paired with somebody I’m going to learn from,” Murray said. “It’s spectacular.”
Every state tournament feels like a reunion for the majority of these players, who have been competing with, or against one another for decades.
“It’s fun because we’ve been competing against each other for 30, or 40 years now, so it’s a lot of fun to see everybody,” Wright said. “It’s a tight-knit group. When I moved here 40 years ago, I didn’t know anybody and through golf, playing in tournaments, I met a lot of players, a lot of people in the golf community and they’ve become longtime friends, which is great.”
The best part is after the round, most golfers stay for lunch, or dinner, and a few libations with everyone describing their respective rounds. All were impressed with the condition of the golf course and gave it kudos.
“Golf courses (in Rhode Island) are top notch,” Murray said. “This place is spectacular.”
So spectacular one golfer kept popping Tums during his round.
“This place can give you heartburn,” he said.
That wasn’t the case for Pawtucket’s Brian O’Leary, who finished T1 (1-under 68), joining Ledgemont’s Derek Johnson and Segregansett’s Bruce Barboza.