Past Champions Lead Impressive Field
By Joe McDonald
RIGA Senior Writer
RUMFORD – It’s a good sign for golf in Rhode Island when six of the top seven players in the field of a major championship are past champions.
That was the case after the qualifying round of the 2024 Women’s Amateur & Net Championships Monday at Wannamoisett Country Club. Alexis Florio, of Alpine CC, who won this championship in 2020, was the medalist Monday with an even-par 73. Olivia Williams (2023), Kylie Eaton (2022), Emily Brooks (2021), Addy Douglas (2017) and Val Blinn (2007) were all among the leaders after the stroke-play portion.
Brooks, of Wanumetonomy G&CC, finished second with a 2-over 75, while Williams (Potowomut GC) and Blinn (Montaup CC) placed T3 at 4-over 77. Douglas (Newport CC) and Eaton (Kirkbrae CC) finished T6 at 6-over 79. Lilly Dessel, who won the Junior Amateur Championship last week at Pawtucket CC, also tied for sixth Monday. Angel MacLeod, the two-time Senior Amateur champion, finished ninth with a 7-over 80.
It was an impressive start for past, present and future RIGA champions in the strong and eclectic field.
“I think it’s great,” Florio said of the field at this year’s championship. “I love the diversity we have here – high school (players), college and mid-amateurs. It was great playing with Kylie and Emily today. The field is pretty strong and it’s kind of odd that I don’t know some names at the moment, but I haven’t really been around Rhode Island golf much the past few years. I’m excited and it’s great for the state. The more competitive we can be, the better.”
MacLeod, a seasoned veteran on the circuit, also won the Women’s Club Championship Sunday at Wannamoisett. As the golf coach at Bryant University, she is thrilled with the number of players competing in the Women’s Amateur this season.
“It’s a very strong field,” MacLeod said. “I love seeing all the young girls who are out here playing. It’s great.”
Eaton, 19, who is preparing for her freshman year at the University of Illinois, was impressed when she examined the field prior to the start of this major championship.
“There are so many good players in it this year,” she said. “You don’t ever want it to be easy and I was excited to see such a strong field this year.”
Eaton, a former standout at Moses Brown, spent this past school year at IMG Academy in Florida before committing to Illinois for golf. She planned on playing in both the Rhode Island and Massachusetts Women’s Amateur Championships but decided to play in only one.
“I’m capping it off with this one, because I want to have some time at home and this is always a good way to end the summer, catching up with Rhode Island golf friends,” Eaton said.
Everyone was excited to see Florio back in the mix. After an impressive collegiate career at both Columbia and Indiana, the 24-year-old is working as a paralegal in Boston with plans of attending law school. So, she’s trying to balance both her career and golf game. Florio played outstanding in her first competitive tournament in over a year. She said it felt great to be back, especially playing in the Women’s Amateur at Wannamoisett.
“It’s nice to be back and feeling all the things you feel when you’re in a competitive golf tournament – the practice, then coming out here, trying to post a score and compete – I loved it,” she said.
Florio’s decision to return was an easy one.
“I saw it was at Wannamoisett this year and it’s a great course,” she said with a smile. “It’s been one of my favorites since I was little. I have found memories here, playing Challenge Cup tournaments, so I thought it would be a fun way to get back out there and see what my relationship with golf is like now that I’m working fulltime.
“I try to play as much as I can when I’m able to get out of the city. It’s been a stress reliever. Working is your first responsibility, so whenever I can get out on a golf course I just usually go out and play. I don’t spend much time at a driving range, or if I do I’m practicing my short game and putting. It’s a gift I’ve worked to develop over the past 10 years, and I really want to keep it in my life as I continue to get older and build my career.”
Safe to say there was zero rust on her game. Even though Florio finished as the medalist, she treated Day 1 as an opportunity to “get loose” and re-familiarize herself with the course and her competitors.
“With golf these days I never really know what’s going to happen,” Florio said. “If it’s really good, I feel like I can keep going. If things start to go bad, I’ve played enough tournaments to course correct and find stable ground again, or just know anything can happen.”
Florio returned and announced her presence with authority. It’s been a few years since she competed in this championship but would like to add her name a second time to the prestigious trophy.
“I like seizing any opportunity I have,” she said.
The rest of the field has other thoughts.