By Dalton Balthaser

 

Photo Gallery: http://bit.ly/2yxkWGv

 

WARWICK, R.I. - When Daria Delfino entered her freshman year of high school at St. Mary Academy – Bay View in Riverside, she couldn’t break 60 on nine holes.

 

After committing herself to the game by taking lessons as well as playing and practicing, she became focused on playing college golf in the South.

 

She achieved that dream by playing four years on the Loyola University New Orleans Women’s Golf team where in her senior year she was named a National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) First-Team All-American.

 

Delfino, unfazed by previous failures, claimed the Rhode Island Golf Association’s Women’s Amateur Championship at Valley Country Club (par 72, 5,636 yards) Friday in a 3&2 victory over No. 1 seed Alexis Florio in a battle of Alpine Country Club members.

 

“This day is what I have been waiting on for a long time,” said Delfino, 22, of Cranston, R.I. “I have been in three finals and have lost to the eventual champion the previous three years. This year is special to me because I was playing with Alexis, who I grew up with at Alpine. She’s one of my best friends.

 

“This tournament is The Masters of Rhode Island women’s golf. I have played a lot of great players and I have never had my best when I needed it. Today I was happy that I had my best.”

 

The 2019 graduate of Loyola New Orleans lost to 2016 champion Susie Cavanagh, 2&1, at Sakonnet Golf Club. 2017 champion Addy Douglas defeated her in the semifinals at Rhode Island Country Club, 5&4.

 

In last year’s event at Carnegie Abbey, now The Aquidneck Club, she lost to four-time champion Lisa McGill, 1-up.

 

“I am happy with the long journey I have had to get here,” said Delfino. “In 2016 when I was in my first Final, I was confident but naïve. Losing a hole or hitting a bad shot would get under my skin. I am just happy to be out here. I didn’t think I would be able to play this summer.”

 

Delfino, the No. 3 seed, has been dealing with some shoulder and neck pain that she gets cortisone shots for. She has been in physical therapy for the last seven months.

 

Florio held court through the first 10 holes. She was 1-up as a result of her bogey-free play to that point.

  

But then the momentum changed. Florio three-putted Nos. 11 (par 4, 289 yards) and 12 (par 3, 102 yards) to give Delfino a 1-up advantage, her first of the day. One she wouldn’t relinquish.

 

“I didn’t make as many birdies as I had been making this week,” said Florio, 19, of Cranston and a rising sophomore at Columbia University in New York. “My approach shots to the green weren’t as close either so I had a lot of long putts. I drove the ball really well but couldn’t get the ball back to the hole.”

 

Delfino won No. 13 (par 4, 369 yards) to get to 2-up after stuffing a 52-degree wedge from 86 yards to six feet.

 

Florio birdied No. 14 (par 4, 316 yards) to cut the deficit back to one, but then Delfino responded by birdieing No. 15 (par 4, 319 yards) after making a 20-footer.

 

She then closed the door with a birdie on No. 16 (par 5, 403 yards), securing her first RIGA Women’s Amateur Championship.

 

“I told Alexis on the first tee that this was the Club Championship at Alpine,” said Delfino. “Alexis won the RIGA Women’s Stroke Play last year and that got under my skin. We haven’t played together in a while. It’s nice to be the Alpine Champion.”

 

Delfino learned on Thursday her grandmother Ilse died. With her parents following along she gave her family a moment they’ll remember for a long time.

 

“My family comes first,” said Delfino. “And to see my family struggle with what has happened, I want to give them a reason to be happy. I think this is a great reason to be happy.”

 

President’s Bowl

 

North Kingstown Golf Club’s Paula Kleniewski defeated Metacomet Golf Club’s Tracy Higgins, 4&2, to claim the President’s Bowl.

 

The President’s Bowl goes to the winner of the Net division of the #RIWomensAm.

 

“It means a lot,” said Kleniewski, 32, of North Kingstown, R.I. “I have been playing in this event for several years and I don’t get to play much anymore. To get to the Final and win is a great feeling.”