Vieira Seeks Redemption
By Joe McDonald
RIGA Senior Writer
WESTERLY – Cole Vieira has been thinking about the 104th Rhode Island Junior Amateur Championship for nearly an entire year.
He had to settle for second place last summer after Max Jackson posted a 5&3 victory in the 103rd State Championship at Winnapaug Country Club. It didn’t take long for Vieira to put that loss in the rearview mirror and focus on his chances for 2023.
“The second I walked off 16,” Vieira said. “Max and I are really good friends, so we play together all the time, but that was one of my best performances – ever. I played really well, but being so close to winning and then getting your hopes ripped apart, so I put this on my calendar right away. I’m playing well and we’ll see what I have."
Vieira needed a playoff hole to defeat Joey Iaciofano in the Round of 16 Tuesday at Winnapaug. Vieira chipped in for birdie from off the front of the green for the win. He had that shot a few times already, so he knew where he needed to land the ball for a chance to birdie the hole.
“I thought I would land it a few feet right and let it trickle over,” explained Vieira. “I did the exact same thing. It checked perfectly and went right in the hole.”
Vieira recently graduated from Barrington High School and will attend Assumption University and play golf. In fact, he’s leaving in less than three weeks and wants to end his summer with a State Championship that has eluded him for the last few years.
“It means a lot,” he said of playing in the State Junior Amateur. “I was runner-up last year, so coming in second puts some fire in you, coming so close to winning and then getting worked in the finals isn’t fun – ever. This means a lot, because it’s such a big tournament and it’s my last year, so I want to go out with something to remember.”
His match Tuesday with Iacifano was a grind. It went back and forth all day until it was decided on the 19th hole.
“It was a great match. He’s a great player,” Vieira said of Iaciofano, who is only 14. “He’s a young kid, so it’s great to see some talent in Rhode Island coming up."
After two days at Winnapaug, the Rhode Island State Junior Amateur switches venues as Ledgemont Country Club will host the final two days of the tournament.
“I’ve played Ledgemont a decent amount. It’s a much different course than Winnapaug. It’s more open and it’s a lot of drivers. I’ve been driving the ball really well, so I’m excited. It’ll be driver and wedges,” Vieira said.
He will face Sebastian Carlsson, who recently graduated from Narragansett High School and won the 2023 Rhode Island Interscholastic League Golf State Championship. Carlsson defeated Conner Rabbitt 2&1 Tuesday afternoon at Winnapaug.
“I’m good friends with Sebastian and have played with him multiple times,” Vieira said. “He’s a great player, similar to me – fairways and greens and a good putter. It’s going to be a great match, I have no doubt in my mind."