Defending Champions Lead Pack
By Joe McDonald
RIGA Senior Writer
WESTERLY – It’s always a challenge when you’re the defending Rhode Island Junior Amateur champion. Every golfer has you in their sights.
That’s the case for both Olivia Williams and Max Jackson. They began their respective title defenses in the 104th State Amateur Championship Monday at Winnapaug Country Club. Both made their presence felt in Round 1. Williams played outstanding and finished with a 4-under 69. Jackson started slow but finished strong with a 3-under 69. Joey Iaciofano also finished 3-under in the boys’ division.
“I just wanted to come out play well, especially the first day,” Williams said. “I haven’t been playing great lately, but I’ve been practicing a lot more. Obviously, I want to win again, but I just wanted to play well today."
It was evident Williams was focused since she carded four birdies and an eagle during Round 1. Plus, she’s confident at Winnapaug since this is where she won her championship last summer.
“I actually really like this course,” Williams said. “I hit my driver pretty straight, so I can hit driver a lot. (The course) is short, so I have a lot of wedges in.”
Jackson, the two-time defending boys’ champion, admitted he wasn’t as sharp to begin his round and was 1-over on the front. He regained his focus on the back and dropped four birdies for a total of five on the day.
“I thought, ‘I just have to lock in.’ I knew 1-over would be shaky (to make the cut). This is the tournament for me. I look forward to this one every single year. I’m the defending champ, so I didn’t really want to miss the cut because that wouldn’t have been a good look,” Jackson said. “I was out of it on the front, so I just focused, took tunnel vision to get some birdies coming in.”
Williams and Jackson, both standouts at La Salle, were disappointed with how they finished in the 2023 Rhode Island High School Interscholastic League State Championships. So, they both wanted to respond in the Rhode Island Junior Amateur this week. They’re both off to a solid start.
“We both lost States, so we definitely want to come back and win this,” Williams said.
Jackson knows Williams will be tough to beat with how she’s playing.
“Liv is probably one of the best players I have ever played with,” he said. “She hits it so straight and anytime I play against her it’s always a battle. She has that same fire in her to defend and get the win. If she sticks to her game she’ll be just fine.”
On the girls’ side, Lily Dessel finished 1-under 72 for second place, while Kylie and Adriana Eaton are T3 at 1-over 74. For the boys, Chad Correia and Ryan Marcantonio both finished 2-under, while Joe Earley and Rocco Capalbo each shot 1-under. With Round 1 in the rearview mirror, the rest of the tournament will be interesting.
“We have some really good players in Rhode Island, and a good amount of people were under par today, so anyone can really get hot anytime,” Jackson said. “I just have to put (defending champion status) behind me and think of it as just another tournament. I just need to play my game and not think about that.”
Jackson won his second Junior Amateur title here last summer and hopes to keep that streak going.
“If you hit it in the fairway you’re going to have looks pretty much every hole,” he said. “It’s really short, but at the same time it’s really narrow. If you keep it in the fairway and think your way around this place you can easily shot 66, 67, or 68. That’s why it’s so cool for the kids who are younger because this course suits them. You’ll probably see a lot of younger kids in the championship division, because they all hit it so straight and they’re so precise. This course can eat you alive, but it can be real scoreable, too.”
Match play begins Tuesday at Winnapaug, before the tournament shifts to Ledgemont Country Club for the quarterfinals, semifinals and finals on Wednesday and Thursday.