Preview: 62nd Northeast Amateur Invitational
By Joe McDonald
RIGA Senior Writer
RUMFORD – A year ago, Nick Dunlap drained an incredible birdie putt on the 18th hole to win the 61st Northeast Amateur Invitational at Wannamoisett Country Club. It was a dramatic come-from-behind victory, while his fist pump and scream clearly demonstrated his overwhelming excitement.
Every edition of this tournament, which is considered one of the best amateur events in the world, has a unique storyline. Whether it’s perennial champions, or underdog winners, this invitational never disappoints. So, welcome to the 62nd Northeast Amateur.
The Wannamoisett staff, membership and community take an enormous amount of pride in this tournament and it’s on display every June. Players, friends, families and spectators always leave Rumford with a life-lasting experience. Everyone is ready for this year’s first tee shot June 19.
“A lot of work goes into getting to this point,” said tournament chairman Ben Tuthill. “We begin preparations in January, starting to figure out our invitation list and then starting to put the field together. Invitations go out in early February, and up until to (Day 1) of the tournament we’ll have some minor changes. It’s all-hands on deck here with the club staff, and our committee has been busy for months. It takes an army.”
That “army” is the main reason the Northeast Amateur, which is the second of seven tournaments in the Elite Amateur Series, is a success every year. A combination of the par-69, 126-year-old Donald Ross course, along with the field, helps this tournament gain its popularity among the players, which is another reason for the impressive 2024 roster.
“Throw in the U.S. Amateur, Western Amateur, and a few other top events, but other than that the Northeast will have one of the strongest fields, as well as the smallest, in amateur golf this summer,” Tuthill said. “We attract the best talent that’s out there. It’s the history of the event, all the pieces we get right to make the experience for the players very special. Word of mouth travels around the country and the globe and the players want to come here and see what this course is all about. They also want to compete with the best, too, so when they’re looking at their summer schedules this one is always going to be on top of the list of places they want to be if they can.”
The Tournament committee has once again put together one of the strongest fields in event history which includes many of the top collegians, Mid-Ams and junior (under-18) players in the world. The field features players representing 10 different countries, from Austria and Australia to China and Thailand.
Of the collegiate players set to tee it up, five were recently named 1st Team All-Americans and a host of players received Division I PING All-Region honors.
Gordon Sargent is coming back for his third Northeast Amateur and leads the group of decorated players in the field. He completed his junior year at Vanderbilt and is the top ranked amateur in the World (WAGR). He starred for the victorious 2023 Walker Cup team at St. Andrews, played in the 2023 Masters, and made the cut the 2023 U.S. Open and is playing in the 2024 US Open. He’s also the first player to earn their full PGA Tour card via the PGA Tour University Accelerated program. However, he elected to return to school for his senior season and play one more summer of amateur golf.
“He’s done some amazing things,” Tuthill said. “We didn’t expect to have the No. 1 player in the world here but it’s great for all of us. It’s pretty cool.”
Ben James from Milford, Conn., and the University of Virginia, is also a 1st Team All-American. He is the third ranked amateur in the world, recently finished T2 at the NCAA National Championship and qualified for the US Open at Pinehurst. James and Sargent are among seven members of the Arnold Palmer Cup team which will travel to play an International team at Lahinch (Ireland) in July. The others are David Ford (North Carolina), Michael LaSasso (Ole Miss), Jack Lundin (Missouri), Brendan Valdes (Auburn) and Jackson Van Paris (Vanderbilt).
The field also includes notable U.S. Mid Amateur Champion Stewart Hagestad, last year’s Joseph Sprague Sr. Low Mid-Am Award winner, who played in the Masters earlier this year and is playing in the U.S. Open. Notable juniors including Miles Russell, AJGA Player of the Year, from Jacksonville Beach, Fla., and Blades Brown from Nashville, Tenn., will be making their first appearance.
There’s more than just global interest when it comes to the Northeast Amateur. Three Rhode Islanders – Bobby Leopold, Tyler Cooke and Harry Dessel – will compete in the Northeast Amateur via exemptions. Leopold is the defending Rhode Island State Amateur champion, Cooke is the reigning Wannamoisett club champion, and Dessel is the 2023 Rhode Island Player of the Year.
“It’s really cool as a tournament that we still honor those local exemptions,” Tuthill said. “These are coveted spots in our field of 96 players. I receive hundreds of inquiries in the months leading up to event, regarding getting a spot in the field, so for the local exemptions it’s really nice to offer those for the Rhode Island Golf Association. (Local) players know what’s on the line.
While Leopold and Cooke have competed in the past, this will be Dessel’s first Northeast Amateur and it’s a dream come true for him.
“It’s a different type of field they’re normally going to be playing and it’s usually a pretty good accomplishment to make the cut. Hopefully the guys just have a really fun week and enjoy what it’s all about here at the Northeast.”
The Northeast Amateur is also pleased to welcome back Todd White, the 1990 Champion and the 2023 U.S. Senior Amateur Champion. He will be playing the U.S. Open, Northeast Amateur and then the U.S. Senior Open at Newport CC. This will be his 20thappearance in the tournament.
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