City players Forcier, Leopold win prestigious golf titles

Forcier defeats Lukowicz in all-E.P. State Am final; Leopold earns regional crown at Metacomet

By Mike Rego
Posted 7/20/17

East Providence was the hub of golf, locally and regionally, over the last few weeks as a player with local ties captured the state’s top amateur prize while another took home the title as one …

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City players Forcier, Leopold win prestigious golf titles

Forcier defeats Lukowicz in all-E.P. State Am final; Leopold earns regional crown at Metacomet

Posted

EAST PROVIDENCE — The city was the hub of golf locally and regionally over the last few weeks as a player with local ties captured the state’s top amateur prize while another took home the title as one of East Providence’s renowned courses played host to the best non-professional competitors in the six-state territory.
The 112th edition of the Rhode Island Golf Association Men’s State Amateur Championship turned into an all-East Providence affair by week’s end as Wannamoisett’s Billy Forcier eventually won the title with a 3 and 2 win over Metacoment’s Jamie Lukowicz on July 14.
Wannamoisett’s Bobby Leopold, who lost an intra-club semifinal to Forcier in the State Am, responded as only someone with his championship pedigree would do as he won the 88th annual New England Amateur title July 20 at Metacomet.
State Am notes
The State Am semifinals featured four players from city courses, actually competitions between club mates. Forcier upended Leopold, 1 up, in a rematch of the 2009 State Am final won by the latter, 3 and 2, at nearby Crestwood.
Meanwhile Lukowicz defeated his Metacomet mate Ricky Audette Jr., 4 and 3, in the other semi. Add in Audette’s 3 and 2 win over Metacomet’s Bruce Heterick and five of the eight quarterfinalists had city golfing ties.
Earlier in the week, Joseph Tucker of Potowomut, was the stroke play medallist, carding a two-round total of 5 under, 139. Leopold, the two-time former State Am champ, defeated Tucker, 3 and 2, in the quarters.
N.E. Am notes
Leopold captured his first regional title by one stroke over the field, finishing with a four-round total of 4-under, 277. He led the event after Round 1 following a 3-under 67 then shot 1-over 71 in Round 2. Leopold carded a 1-under 69 in Round 3 played earlier last Thursday morning, then ended his tourney with an even-par 70 in the afternoon session as downpours showered the bayside layout late in the day.
Leopold had the clubhouse lead then waited a bit as former State Am champ and Montaup member Kevin Silva and Billy Walthouse of Longmeadow (Mass.) C.C., playing the game behind in the final group, finished their fourth rounds.
Walthouse, a 2017 graduate of URI and golf team member there, actually tied Leopold at 3-under with a birdie on the par 4 16th at Metacomet but gave the stroke right back with a bogey five on the always-difficult uphill par 4 17th. Silva made birdie on the 407-yard 17th to close within one, but could manage a par on the par 4 last.
Three other players with East Bay area ties made the cut. Montaup’s Jake Bauer finished tied 11th at 3-over, 283; Metacomet’s Brad Valois finished T23 at 7-over, 287; and Metacomet’s Rick Audette struggled to a 76 in Round 4 after a sparkling 68 in Round 3 to finish T26 at 9-over, 289.

112th RIGA State Amateur Championship
Valley Country Club, July 10-17
Match Play Results

Final
Billy Forcier, Wannamoisett def. Jamie Lukowicz, Metacomet, 3 and 2

Semifinal
Billy Forcier, Wannamoisett def. Bobby Leopold, Wannamoisett, 1 up
Jamie Lukowicz, Metacomet def. Richard Audette Jr, Metacomet, 4 and 3

Quarterfinal
Bobby Leopold, Wannamoisett def. Joseph Tucker, Potowomut GC, 3 and 2
Billy Forcier, Wannamoisett def. Kevin Silva, Montaup, 19 holes
Richard Audette Jr, Metacomet def. Bruce Heterick, Metacomet, 3 and 2
Jamie Lukowicz, Metacomet def. Ryan Pelletier, Pawtucket, 5 and 3

Round of 16
Joseph Tucker, Potowomut GC def. Eric Marchetti, Metacomet, 3 and 1
Bobby Leopold, Wannamoisett def. Colin Sutyla, Potowomut GC, 2 and 1
Kevin Silva, Montaup def. Matthew Costaregni, Potowomut GC, 2 up
Billy Forcier, Wannamoisett def. Jake Bauer, Montaup, 3 and 2
Bruce Heterick, Metacomet def. Dave Jones, Connecticut National Golf Club, 3 and 2
Richard Audette Jr, Metacomet def. Patrick Welch, Providence, 4 and 2
Jamie Lukowicz, Metacomet def. Seamus Fennelly, Metacomet, 6 and 5
Ryan Pelletier, Pawtucket def. Kevin Marcoux, Quinnatisset, 2 and 1

Round of 32
Joseph Tucker, Potowomut GC def. Jay Barrow, Laurel Lane, 2 up
Eric Marchetti, Metacomet def. Dr George Pirie, Valley, 1 up
Bobby Leopold, Wannamoisett def. Sean Irons, Valley, 4 and 3
Colin Sutyla, Potowomut GC def. Kevin Blaser, Metacomet, 1 up
Kevin Silva, Montaup, def. Dave Nuttall Jr, Ledgemont, 5 and 3
Matthew Costaregni, Potowomut GC def.. Jason Short, Point Judith, 1 up
Jake Bauer, Montaup def. David Dercole, Cranston, 5 and 4
Billy Forcier, Wannamoisett def. Andrew Roy, Ledgemont, 4 and 3
Bruce Heterick, Metacomet def. Tyler Cooke, Wannamoisett, 3 and 1
Dave Jones, Connecticut National Golf Club def. Rob Grossguth, West Warwick, 21 holes
Patrick Welch, Providence, def. John Drohen, Harbor Lights Marina &, 1 up
Richard Audette Jr, Metacomet def. Jack Cammisa, Carnegie Abbey, 2 and 1
Jamie Lukowicz, Metacomet def. Eli Epstein-Lubow, Ledgemont, 3 and 2
Seamus Fennelly, Metacomet def. Riley Griffin, Rhode Island, 3 and 2
Ryan Pelletier, Pawtucket def. Brad Valois, Metacomet, 1 up
Kevin Marcoux, Quinnatisset def. Michael Philipp, Triggs Memorial GC, 4 and 3

* Stroke Play Medallist: Joseph Tucker, Potowomut , -5 (70-69-139)

88th New England Amateur Championship
Metacomet Country Club, July 18-20
Final results

1  Bobby Leopold Wannamoisett CC (RI) -3  67  71  69  70-277

T2  Billy Walthouse Longmeadow CC (MA) -2  68  68  71  71-278

T2  Kevin Silva Montaup CC (RI) -2  66  70  72  70-278

4  Matthew Paradis Concord CC (NH) -1  71  69  67  72-279

5  Jackson Lang Nashawtuc CC (MA) +1  69  70  68  74-281

T6  John Abbott Timberlin GC (CT) +2  74  71  69  68-282

T6  Matt Hutchins Woodlands Club (ME) +2  69  71  72  70-282

T6  Mark Turner Bass Rocks GC (MA) +2  68  72  69  73-282

T6  Matthew Organisak Nashawtuc CC (MA) +2  73  70  68  7  1-282

T6  Rasmey Kong Middlesex Eclub (CT) +2  67  73  74  68-282

T11  Jake Bauer Montaup CC (RI) +3  69  74  69  71-283

T11  Max Ferrari Framingham CC (MA) +3  72  65  75  71-283

T13  Ryan Tombs Manchester CC (NH) +4  71  75  69  69-284

T13  Max Theodorakis Ridgewood CC (CT) +4  69  71  76  68-284

T13  Ben Balter Weston GC (MA) +4  73  68  69  74-284

T16  Bryson Richards CC of Barre (VT) +5  71  73  73  68-285

T16  Matt Stafford Suffield CC (CT) +5  72  75  67  71-285

T16  Matthew Naumec GreatHorse (MA) +5  69  75  68  73-285

T16  Chandler Morris CC of Waterbury (CT) +5  72  71  71  71-285

T16  Drake Hull Rutland CC (VT) +5  75  65  74  71-285

T21  Matt Cowgill Wayland CC (MA) +6  74  69  66  77-286

T21  Cody Booska CC of Greenfield (MA) +6  70  72  73  71-286

T23  Alejandro Soto Blue Hill CC (MA) +7  74  73  68  72-287

T23  Brad Valois Metacomet CC (RI) +7  72  74  70  71-287

25  Patrick Frodigh Dedham CC (MA) +8  68  72  76  72-288

T26  Rick Audette Metacomet CC (RI) +9  73  72  68  76-289

T26  Benedict Hoeller Granite Links GC (MA) +9  70  75  67  77-289

T26  Blake Kelley Manchester CC (CT) +9  72  73  72  7-2-289

T26  Garren Poirier Rutland CC (VT) +9  68  75  71  75-289

T30  John Drohen Harbor Lights CC (RI) +10  72  69  75  74-290

T30  John Roberts Rockledge CC (CT) +10  71  69  73  77-290

T30  Nicholas Hampoian Golf Club of New England (NH) +10  70  71  75  74-290

33  Alex Rainville St Johnsbury CC (VT) +11  76  68  72  75-291

T34  Zach Iannone Race Brook CC (CT) +13  74  73  72  74-293

T34  Colin Sutyla Potowomut GC (RI) +13  69  75  76  73-293

T34  Connor Henderson Hopkinton CC (MA) +13  75  72  70  76-293

T37  Preston Shortell GC at Oxford Greens (CT) +15  72  75  75  73-295

T37  Brian Bassett Oyster Harbors Club (MA) +15  70  71  77  77-295

T39  Ryan Pelletier Pawtucket CC (RI) +16  76  69  73  78-296

T39  Mike Calef Pine Oaks GC (MA) +16  70  73  76  77-296

T41  Michael Kennedy Mill River CC (CT) +19  72  73  80  74-299

T41  Patrick Casey Torrington CC (CT) +19  76  71  74  78-299

T41  Monte Mullen TPC River Highlands (CT) +19  73  74  777  5-299

T44  Joe Brosseau Springfield CC (MA) +20  74  73  79  74  300

T44  James Turner Bass Rocks GC (MA) +20  73  74  76  77  300

T44  Owen Elliott Sandy Burr CC (MA) +20  71  76  75  78  300

47  Brian Sears Highfields G&CC (MA) +21  70  77  75  79  301

48  James Patterson Orchards GC (MA) +23  76  71  80  76  303

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Mike Rego

Mike Rego has worked at East Bay Newspapers since 2001, helping the company launch The Westport Shorelines. He soon after became a Sports Editor, spending the next 10-plus years in that role before taking over as editor of The East Providence Post in February of 2012. To contact Mike about The Post or to submit information, suggest story ideas or photo opportunities, etc. in East Providence, email mrego@eastbaymediagroup.com.