2015 Four-Ball Championship
| Connecticut National GC & Quinnatisset CC June 9-10 | ||
| | Final Results Final Recap  By Paul Kenyon PUTNAM, Ct. _ Bobby Leopold and Tyler Cooke not only won the 66th R.I. Golf Association Four-Ball on Wednesday, they earned themselves a spot among the greatest performances ever in the association’s 110-year history. The brothers-in-law (Leopold is married to Cooke’s sister, Taylor) destroyed all records as they put on a hard-to-believe performance on the way to winning the title by 13 strokes. They followed their record-setting59 at Quinnatisset in Tuesday’s first round by almost matching it in the finale at Connecticut National. ``I missed that 30-footer (for eagle) on the last hole for another 59,’’ Leopold said with a huge smile. ``I wanted it.’’ Their 60, which is 11-under-par at Connecticut National, gave them a 36-hole total of an amazing 24-under-par. While they were 11 and 13 under, respectively, in the two days, no other team bettered 11 under over two rounds. The teams of Ricky Audette and Jason Kalin and the two-time defending champions, Ryan Pelletier and Kyle Hoffman, tied for second at 11-under. ``We played silly good,’’ is the way Leopold summed it up. ``The crazy part is that it could have been better,’’ Cooke offered. ``We missed some chances. Look at this,’’ he said, pointing to their scorecard. ``From 10 to 15, we only had one birdie. We missed chances to make some on those holes.’’ Perhaps the greatest performance ever in the RIGA, at least in modern history, came when Dana Quigley won the State Open with a 13-under-par 194 total at Pawtucket in 1996. That remains the tournament record. Quigley won that one, one of his six Open titles, by 11. As a team competition where only the better ball is counted on each hole, the Four-Ball is a bit different. But the work Cooke and Leopold turned in ranks every bit as high as the performance by Quigley in 1996. Among other things, the new champions shot 28 on the front nine each day. Think of that. It sounds crazy but they had back-t-back 28s! In round two, they eagled both of the par-5s on the front side, 1 and 6, and added three birdies for their second 28. Leopold got the day started right with an eagle on the 508-yard first hole, then Cooke matched it with eagle on the 560-yard sixth. The two had an unusual explanation on why they played so well. Obviously, as family, they know each other very well and they are very comfortable working with each other. ``We play so much golf together and when we do we’re always trying to beat each other,’’ Leopold said. ``It carried over to here. Even though we’re together, we want to beat each other. We push each other.’’ ``We really do want to beat each other,’’ Cooke added. ``When he does something, I want to do it on the next hole. He did it to me again today. He beat me by a stroke. He shot 66, I shot 67.’’ Leopold, who works in the family insurance business, has been one of the state’s dominant players since arriving in Rhode Island. Cooke is still in college at the University of Connecticut. Until now, he has played hockey for the Huskies. But he is getting off the ice. ``My hockey eligibility is done. I’m on the golf team now,’’ he said. ``I have two years of eligibility in golf.’’ The tournament was doubly successful. The venue added to the awesome play of Cooke and Leopold. The event was the first held since Connecticut National and Quinnatisset became the first clubs from Connecticut to join the RIGA. They not only have added some new tournament-playing members to the RIGA, the courses themselves are proving to be welcome additions. The two, about 10 minutes apart just over the state line off Route 44, are very different clubs. Quinnatisset is a private club that is 112 years old. It looks and plays much like a Pawtucket or Potowomut with tree-lined fairways, numerous rock walls and formations plus a small, simple clubhouse. Connecticut National is a much newer, much longer and more wide open course as is the style of so many 21st century style clubs, complete with big, gorgeous clubhouse. It is on 180 acres, nearly twice the space of some clubs in Rhode Island and has more than 400 acres overall on the property. Bob Ward, the RIGA director, spent part of the day Wednesday talking hockey with Brad Rabitor, one of the owners. Rabitor is one many members of his family who were hockey stars at Burrillville High. ``They are two great courses, two fantastic additions to the RIGA,’’ Ward said. Round 1 Recap By Paul Kenyon THOMPSON, Ct. _ The first visit ever by the RIGA to the state of Connecticut was a rousing success, especially for Tyler Cooke and Bobby Leopold. Cooke and Leopold made the opening round of the 66th Four-Ball Championship a memorable one as they set an association record with a dazzling 59 at Quinnatisset Country Club, the lowest score in the association’s 110-year history. The two brothers-in-law, playing as partners for the first time in state competition, combined to pile up 13 birdies. They ``settled’’ for par in the five other holes. Their work included eight straight birdies, also an RIGA record, after opening with a par on the first hole. ``That,’’ said Leopold, the reigning State Amateur champion, ``was awsome.’’ ``It was the coolest experience I’ve ever had on a golf course,’’ added Cooke, who played wearing his University of Connecticut colors. Cooke played hockey for the Huskies. Charlie Blanchard, the RIGA’s seven-time player-of-the-year, and his partner Jamie Griffiths, were in the same foursome with Cooke and Leopold. ``We felt like we shooting a thousand,’’ Griffiths said. They actually played well, placing among the leaders at a 4-under 68. Hall of Famer George Pirie put the accomplishment in perspective. ``The number 59 is awesome in itself,’’ the doctor said, ``but to do it here makes it even better. This is a great track. I thought it was pretty tough out there.’’ The course played just under 6,500-yards and has a SLOPE rating of 122. The individual record at the course, which is 112 years old but was reworked in 2003, is 63. The numbers put up by Leopold and Cooke were so good that they earned them an six-stroke lead heading into Wednesday’s second and final round. The second place team is the two-time defending championship duo of Kyle Hoffman and Ryan Pelletier. ``I thought we played pretty good. We shot the same score we did last year in the first round,’’ Hoffman said. ``Except now we’re six behind.’’ ``Normally we’d be happy with 7-under,’’ Pelletier offered. ``But not today.’’ Here are the highlights on the way to a 59: Hole 1: Leopold had a chance for bird but missed a 12-footer. 2: Cooke hit his approach on the par-4 in tight, but never had to putt because Leopold rolled in a 50-footer. 3: Cooke nearly aces the 197-yard hole, coming within one foot for a kick in bird. 4: Leopold got home on the 519-yard par-5 and two-putted for bird. 5: Cooke sinks an eight-footer for bird. 6: Leopold drains a seven-footer to keep the birdie streak alive. 7: Leopold drops a 25-footer. 8: Cooke chips in for bird. 9: Leopold makes a 15-footer to make it eight birds in a row and a 28 on the front side. The pair began the back nine with pars at 10 and 11. ``It felt like we were slowing down,’’ Leopold joked when it was over. Cooke got them back on track by hitting it stiff on the par-4 12th for an easy bird. Leopold needed a 20-footer just to save par on 13, but then took command with birds on 14, 15 and 16. Cooke was in tight for a bird on the par-5 closing hole, but never had to putt. Leopold rolled in his birdie before Cooke had a chance. ``They played perfect partner golf,’’ Griffiths said. Cooke and Leopold each had only one bogey on their own ball. Leopold’s 64 on his own ball was lower than any other team score. Cooke had 68. All this happened in the first RIGA event held in Connecticut. Quinnatisset and Connecticut National joined the association last year. Both courses are being used for this event. The courses drew positive reviews from the players, not surprisingly with Leopold and Cooke leading the way. ``The greens are so good. All you’ve got to do is get the ball rolling and they go right in,’’ Leopold said.
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