Building a Legacy in Rhode Island
By Joe McDonald
RIGA Senior Writer
PAWTUCKET – As one of the smallest golf associations in the country, Rhode Island has created some of the biggest rivalries at the junior amateur level.
Case in point: Adriana Eaton and Olivia Williams. These players have squared off time and again and their names are always in the headlines locally, regionally and nationally. On Thursday, the girls were back at it during the semifinal round of the 105th Junior Amateur Championship at Pawtucket Country Club. It ended in Williams’ favor with a 3&2 victory over Eaton. Williams now has a chance to become a three-time champion if she can hold off Lily Dessel, who defeated Claire McTaggart, 1-up.
“I feel great,” Williams said. “It was definitely a tough match today, but I’m very excited to be playing (Friday).”
Even though it’s become an intense rivalry, it’s evident Williams and Eaton enjoy playing against one another. They talk, walk and smile during the majority of their matches until, of course, a victory is on the line.
“Every time we play we have a lot of fun and we talk a lot,” Williams said. “Today was like we were just playing together, but we definitely go back and forth and she’s very good. It was a tough match today, but we definitely have a lot of fun when we play together.”
Williams also defeated Eaton, 1-up, to win this championship last season at Ledgemont Country Club.
Dessel and McTaggart went back and forth during their entire semifinal match Thursday at PCC. They too were enjoying the competition. In fact, they were planning to play another 18 holes together in the afternoon at their home course, Rhode Island Country Club.
“I’m pretty excited,” Dessel said of her victory. “I’ve played in this tournament for many years and it’s my first time making it to the finals, so I’ll go into it with the same mindset and hope I’m going to win.”
Dessel is preparing for an epic challenge in the final against Williams.
“We’re both super consistent and I play with her a lot,” Dessel said. “It’ll be about myself and not making mistakes. I just need to stay steady.”
The current roster of girls playing in state events is impressive. They’ve formed a tight bond despite the amount of rounds they play against one another either in high school, or at the state level. They also take pride in the fact that they represent Rhode Island well. Williams and Eaton, along with sister Kylie Eaton, won the Girls’ New England Junior Amateur Championship last summer in New Hampshire.
“I love the RIGA,” Williams said. “It’s very competitive, which is good and it’s not like one person is dominating everything. The competitiveness keeps it interesting, keeps it fun and I’m very proud we’ve won the (2023) New England (Amateur Championship) and we’re the smallest state. I’m very proud of that.”
It’s likely Williams, Eaton and now Dessel will represent Rhode Island at the upcoming New England Junior Amateur Championship Aug. 18-20 at GreatHorse in Hampden, Mass.
“It’s really special,” Dessel said. “It’s really fun when we go to New England, or regional tournaments and you see somebody you know from Rhode Island. There is a close group of us that really get along and like to play together. We’ve also seen so many good players come out of Rhode Island, like my brother, Harry, and other collegiate players, so it’s nice to follow them.”
As far as Williams’ chance to win three consecutive Junior Amateur titles, she’s no doubt focused on the task at hand.
“I can’t let it get in my head,” she said of her chance to make history. “Obviously I’m trying to win, but I just need to focus on one shot at a time and not think about that when I’m playing.”
[BOYS’ CHAMPIONSHIP DIVISION]
It’s been an interesting few months for Brayden Dickinson, including this week at Pawtucket Country Club. The recent North Kingstown High School graduate missed the Rhode Island Interscholastic League Boys’ State Championship because he broke his ankle in May while playing football in gym class.
“It was tough missing states because that was the first tournament I really had my eyes on when I was a freshman,” he said. “That’s the one I wanted to win really bad, but I’m just happy for this opportunity.”
Then, he missed the cut at the 119th State Amateur Championship at Warwick Country Club by one stroke. Now, as he prepares for the final of the Junior Amateur, he understand this was almost a missed opportunity earlier in the week.
Dickinson shot a 4-over 73 during Monday’s stroke-play portion of this championship and thought he missed the cut, so he went home.
“I took a nap, woke up at 3:30, looked at the leaderboard and realized I was in a playoff. I received a text (from the RIGA), asking if I was going to be there and I said, ‘Yeah.’ I got in my car, zoomed up here, got to the tee at 4:24 for a 4:30 playoff and made it. I’m happy I woke up. I’m just grateful to be in this position and I’m going to take full advantage of it (in the final).
Dickinson, of Jamestown Golf Club, defeated Ian Dunham, of Fenner Hill, 1-up in the semifinal match.
Dickinson’s opponent in the final, Jesse Hellring, of Miami Beach, Fla., has been one of the most consistent players the entire week at Pawtucket CC. He spends his summers living with his grandmother in Smithfield and this is his first time competing in a RIGA event. He defeated Rocco Capalbo, of Shelter Harbor GC, 3&1 in the semifinals.
“It would be awesome. Winning this would be great and I’m just excited having a chance to win (in the final),” he said.
In the Boys’ First Division, Connor Ahlborg, of Warwick CC, defeated Luke Cavanaugh, of Lincoln CC, 3&1, while Conner Rabbitt, of Winnapaug CC, beat Zach Taraian, of Pawtucket CC, 2&1.
In the Boys’ Under-14 Division, Aidan Connell, of Crestwood CC, defeated Mitch McTaggart, of Rhode Island CC, 3&2. Raj Mammen, of Warwick CC, defeated Nico Capalbo, of Shelter Harbor GC, 4&3.