Leopold One Step Closer
By Brady Garthee
USGA Boatwright Intern
WARWICK – Bobby Leopold is just 36 holes away from becoming the third five-time State Amateur champion. With a win over Junior Amateur Champion Max Jackson, Leopold meets Kirkbrae’s Michael Hamilton Saturday in the finals of the 119th State Amateur Championship.
Leopold and Jackson started the week in the same group along with Senior Amateur Champion Darren Corrente; but that was not the last time they would play together in this championship.
The two met in a heavyweight bout to send one to the finals of the State Amateur Championship.
The first eight holes of the match were equivalent to the first few rounds of a 12-round boxing fight. Both were exchanging blows and tested each other hole after hole. If one got out to a lead, the other would tie it right back up. The majority of those eight holes were spent tied.
It all changed on the ninth hole. Jackson sent his tee shot into the water in front of the green to give the 4-time champion a chance to put a right hook to his chin. With a front hole-location for the semifinal, it made those who went for it pay if they mis-hit their tee shot.
Jackson went on to make bogey on the par-3, to put Leopold at 1-up and the chance to build on it going to the back nine.
Leopold went on to birdie hole 11 to put himself 2-up. At this point, he was ready to deliver the knockout punch.
For the next four holes, Jackson did everything to prolong the match, matching Leopold shot-for-shot and in desperation mode.
Hole 16 was the hole where the punch was delivered. Jackson recorded a bogey and sent Leopold to the finals of the 119th State Amateur Championship.
After the match, Leopold admitted there were some nerves in hopes of making it to the finals.
"There are some hard hole locations out there which made it harder," he said. "It also means way more -- semifinals -- and trying to get into the finals. Everyone is nervous at this point. You may not be nervous in the first couple of matches but you know you're right there."
Saturday will be Leopold’s sixth appearance in the finals, with the possibility to win his fifth and become the third person in RIGA history to do so.
But Michael Hamilton of Kirkbrae Country Club will be waiting for him. Hamilton defeated friend and fellow Kirkbrae member Tom McCormick to advance.
Leopold is expecting the 36-hole bout to be one that will be fought hard, mentally and physically taxing.
Saturday "will be kind of fun and stressful at the same time," he said.
One day. Thirty-six holes. Nearly eight hours of golf. It all comes down to this.