By Dalton Balthaser

 

NEWPORT - Jamie Lukowicz has had a year to remember in a year most people want to forget.

 

Just counting his victory in the 115th Rhode Island Amateur at Pawtucket Country Club, Lukowicz had accomplished quite a bit in 2020.

 

He’s not done just yet.

 

Lukowicz, aided by tremendous ball striking in breezy and wet conditions, seized the Day One lead of the 22nd John P. Burke Memorial at Newport Country Club (par 72, 6,577 yards) after a round of 68.

 

The defending champion started off his day with a bad bogey on No. 1 (par 5, 480 yards). He needed two chips and two putts to get down from just short of the green in two. 

 

But it didn’t take him long to bounce back. He stuffed a gap wedge from 85 yards to 10 feet on No. 2 (par 4, 366 yards) and pitched a lob wedge from 50 yards to seven feet on No. 7 (par 5, 553 yards).

 

Then a laser-like 6-iron to two feet on No. 8 (par 3, 177 yards) put him 2 under.

 

Birdies on Nos. 12 (par 5, 477 yards) and 14 (par 3, 189 yards) got him to 4 under. 

 

After an inauspicious start Lukowicz turned his round around and has a three-shot lead over Swansea Country Club’s Kevin Blaser. The final round will be played Wednesday at Wanumetonomy Golf and Country Club.

 

“I have heard Wanumetonomy is in fantastic shape,” said Lukowicz, 46, of Newport. “Usually it is wet and slow, but people have told me it is firm and fast. The new superintendent has done a great job. I have played there a lot over the years and enjoy the place.

 

“I remember it like it was yesterday. The 2012 Rhode Island Amateur was at Wanumetonomy and I shot 1 under on the front nine in qualifying. I was paired with Bobby Leopold and proceeded to hit it out of bounds on No. 10. I made a triple bogey and I wasn’t the same. I missed the match play cut. Although it is a short course, it has plenty of teeth. I can’t take anything for granted.”

 

The #BurkeMemorial is the final Player of the Year points event for the men. Lukowicz trailed Wannamoisett Country Club’s Leopold by 34 points. But Leopold is not competing in the Burke, putting Lukowicz in prime position to win his second Player of the Year Honor (2015).

 

“I texted Bobby and asked him where he was,” said Lukowicz, of Agawam Hunt. “He said he had another obligation. Just because Bobby isn’t playing doesn’t mean Player of the Year is locked up,” said Lukowicz. “Mike [Hamilton] is right on my tail, so I can’t let up. There’s still a lot to play for.”

 

Kirkbrae Country Club’s Hamilton, the reigning #RIStrokePlay champion, is Lukowicz’s closest chaser in the Player of the Year race. He sits 59 points behind Lukowicz. He shot a round of 73.

 

There are a couple of historical pieces at play for Lukowicz. He will look to be the first person to defend the Burke title since Brad Valois in 2016-17.

 

If he is able to win on Wednesday, he will be the first player to win the Burke and the #RIAmateur in the same year since Leopold did it in 2009.

 

“I have had a nice year,” said Lukowicz. “It would be nice to finish out the season with a win and defend my title from last year. There is still plenty of golf left.”

Senior Division

 

 

Pawtucket's Chris O'Neill, aided by a back-nine 30 (6 under), shoots 68 to take the lead in the Senior Division of the Burke at Newport (par 72, 6,194 yards).

 

Next in line is West Warwick Country Club's Herb Stevens who carded a round of 72