SEEKONK _ If they wanted to, RIGA officials could consider changing the name of the tournament now being held at Ledgemont Country Club. The event is the association’s biggest of the year, the 113th State Amateur Championship.
But after two days of qualifying, it looks more like an RIGA Tournament of Champions. The leader board is dominated by players who already have won a significant championship.
Davis Chatfield, the 2016 Amateur champion, continued his sensational summer on Tuesday, firing a 64 for a sparkling 36-hole total of 11-under 131. That gave him medalist honors, but just barely. Former New England Amateur champion Matt Broome, a Rhode Island Country Club product who now works as an agent representing pro golfers, matched Chatfield’s 64 to finish at 132.
As the day went along, the top row of the big scoreboard became filled with the names of players who know how it feels to win. Stroke Play victor Tyler Cooke finished third at 136 thanks to a second-round 67. Four-time Amateur winner Brad Valois also recorded a 67 and earned the fourth seed with a 138 total. Lefty Jake Bauer, an NAIA All-American at Johnson & Wales of Miami this year, was the fifth player to finish under par, with a 69 for 141.
Scoring on the second straight beautiful day was so good that the cut fell at 6-over 148, lower than many predicted before the event began.
Cooke’s situation typified the day. Only three players had posted scores in the 60s in the first round. Cooke was one of them with a 69. He was an early starter in the second round, played the back nine first and went out in 34.
He made the turn and eagled the par-5 first hole, birdied the third had another bird on the sixth. Cooke admitted the thought of being medalist crossed his mind. Even with two late bogeys, he had a 67 to get to 6-under for the tournament. He was surprised when he looked at the scoreboard and saw that Chatfield and Broome already had posted 64s and finished ahead of him.
“I’m so happy for Davis,’’ Cooke said of the soon to be Notre Dame sophomore. “He’s such a good kid.’’
RIGA officials were a bit taken aback by the low scoring.
“This course was never that easy,’’ said Kevin Clary, the RIGA president and a former Amateur champion himself.
“It’s still not that easy,’’ shot back Bob Ward, the association’s executive director. “These guys can really play.’’
Chatfield and Broome led the onslaught. Chatfield started on the back and made two birdies and seven pars for a 33. He really turned it on as he made the made with birds at 1, 3, 5, 6 and 7 for a 31 and his 64.
Broome, playing at about the same time on the opposite side of the course, was tearing it up, too. He had one early bird and one bogey to stand even for the day through four, then went 4-under in his next four, going birdie, par, eagle, bird for a 31 of his own on the front. Two more birds on the back gave him his 64.
After those two 64s, most of the rest of the day was built around who would get in and where the cut would fall.
The stampede of champions continued. Among those who qualified for match play were two-time Mid-Am champion Jamie Lukowicz ( 142), Four-Ball champ Ryan Pelletier (142), two-time Amateur winner Bobby Leopold (143), two-time Junior victor Patrick Welch (143), Tom McCormick, who is both a former Junior and Amateur titlist 146), and finally defending champion Billy Forcier.
Forcier was among the late starters and was 3-under for the day through 10 holes. Added to his opening 71 he appeared safe. But he went 7-over in his final eight holes for a 75 and 146 total.
“I was just holding on,’’ Forcier said with a smile.
The cut line moved from 147 to 148 and back again a couple times. It ended up at 148 with four players, Rio Holzwarth, Ricky Audette, Jason Short and Claudio Soukamneuth tying for the final spot. Soukamneuth won it with a birdie on the first playoff hole, giving him the right to meet Chatfield in the first round.
Two rounds of match play will be held each of the next two days leading to Friday’s 36-hole final.