Angeli, Dantas Shine at Montaup CC
By Brady Garthee
USGA Boatwright Intern
PORTSMOUTH – Rick Angeli and Jeff Dantas shined at Montaup Country Club despite wet conditions.
The start of the New England Senior Amateur qualifier got out to a sluggish start thanks to an inch-and-a-half of rain Monday morning that crippled Montaup CC. The starting time was delayed for an hour, but the players got out of the gates quickly.
Angeli, of Potowomut CC, and Dantas, of Cranston CC, shined a ray of sunshine on a saturated Montaup CC, both shooting 1-under-par (70) and earned a spot in the field at the New England Senior Amateur Championship next month.
“My putter bailed me out on the front side. Happen to make a two out of the bunker on eight which kind of got me a little settled in,” said Angeli.
On the back nine is where he made his mark.
“Struck [the ball] much better on the back and I was able to make a big putt on 14 for birdie from 20-22 feet and then I made another 25-footer on 15 to get to 2-under. Kind of disappointed about the bogey on 17. … I’m finding ways to get it in the hole,” added Angeli.
Angeli was consistent throughout the day, posting only two bogeys while making three birdies.
Dantas was also consistent throughout the day. He went on to go bogey-free with only one birdie that came on the 18th hole.
The next stop: Quinnatisset Country Club in Thompson, Conn. for the New England Senior Amateur Championship on September 17-18.
To Angeli, playing in this championship is “important.”
“I’ve played it the past two years and I really wanted to get back again this year,” he said. “Really excited to play Quinnatisset. It’s a phenomenal golf course. I feel like I can really compete now. The game is in good shape. I’m hitting it well and the scores are starting to reflect that.”
Along with Angeli and Dantas, 15 players (plus ties) and the top three scores from the Super-Senior Division advance to the New England Senior Amateur Championship.
Those three players from the Super-Senior Division are Anthony Carra, of Sterling National Country Club, Chuck Gomes, of Poquoy Brook Golf Club, and Rock Fleischman, of Hopkinton Country Club.
Despite the heavy rain-fall early Monday, the skies stayed clear. With flooded fairways and bunkers, the grounds crew at Montaup CC made sure that the course was ready for play.
“It just drains unbelievably well,” said Angeli. “The golf course is fantastic. Every time we come here the condition of the bunkers, the fairways, and the greens are always very good. I really enjoy playing here…. I was excited when I saw it on the qualifier list.”