By Dalton Balthaser
THOMPSON, Conn. - 2020 hasn’t been kind to many people, but it’s been kind to Mike Hamilton’s golf game.
He’s been finding the form that helped him qualify for the 2017 U.S. Amateur at Riviera Country Club in Pacific Palisades, Calif.
Hamilton, aided by an unconscious putter, took the lead with a 66 after Day One of the 37th Rhode Island Golf Association Stroke Play Tuesday at Quinnatisset Country Club (par 72, 6,503 yards).
Wannamoisett Country Club’s Bobby Leopold and the host club’s Dave Marshall were next in line after rounds of 68.
The cut line fell at 79. With blustery winds being the storyline in the afternoon.
The Kirkbrae Country Club member converted two key par saves on the first two holes from 10 feet. After those clutch saves, his confidence with the putter kept growing.
He converted a 15-footer for birdie on No. 4 (par 5, 519 yards) as well as a 30-footer on Nos. 5 (par 4, 402 yards) and 6 (par 5, 486 yards).
“Putting has been the big difference for me this year,” said Hamilton, 30, of Lincoln, R.I. “I think I hit only nine greens today but made everything I looked at. If I can keep the ball in play and make some putts, that is the difference.”
He kept the momentum he built on the front with a tap-in birdie on No. 10 (par 4, 391 yards). A beautiful pitching wedge from 135 yards set up another red figure.
After a 12-footer for birdie on No. 14 (par 5, 520 yards), Hamilton sat at 4 under coming off a bogey on No. 13 (par 3, 177 yards).
He stood in the middle of No. 18 (par 5, 509 yards) 240 yards away. Off of a downhill lie and a hefty crosswind, Hamilton hit a rocket with his driving iron to 12 feet. The putt rolled in on its last gasp to close out his near perfect round of golf.
“To win Wednesday, I have to hit the ball a bit better,” said Hamilton, a quarterfinalist in this year’s Rhode Island Amateur at Pawtucket Country Club. “If you put together my putting and Bobby [Leopold]’s driving we would’ve had a great best-ball score. Under the pressure of the final round, my putting may not be as good because you are expecting more but I’m excited.”
On Wednesday, Hamilton will be looking for his maiden RIGA victory at the #RIStrokePlay. While he doesn’t have any in the win column, he has plenty of experiences to draw from to give him the confidence he needs to breakthrough.
“We have so many competitive tournaments at Kirkbrae and there are guys always chasing each other,” said Hamilton. “There are many good players at Kirkbrae so hopefully those experiences are enough to prepare me for what will come on Wednesday.”
He’s simply focused on adjusting his mental attitude, which has paid dividends. And all he has focused on with his putting is keeping a loose grip. Hamilton said he has a tendency to death grip all his clubs.
“I just want to enjoy the experience,” said Hamilton. “When I played in the U.S. Amateur at Riviera, I felt like I didn’t belong. When you have that attitude, it ruins the experience. Even if I go out there tomorrow and shoot 100, it’s a learning experience. There’s no reason to beat yourself up over little things.
“That’s what I have learned over the years. I don’t think I have become a better golfer. I have gotten so much better with the mental approach and staying in it. That’s what I couldn’t do in the past. I can’t be satisfied with my 66 today. I have to keep it going for tomorrow.”
Senior Division
Valley Country Club’s Mike Soucy set the pace in the Senior Division with a round of 2-under-par 70 at Quinnatisset (par 72, 5,974 yards).
Soucy mixed three birdies with a bogey to card one of the two under par rounds in the Senior Division. Agawam Hunt’s Dean Parziale shot 71.
A total of 25 seniors made the cut with scores of 79 or better.
Notes
Due to heavy winds and rain that hit Quinnatisset later in the day, the RIGA has made the decision to reduce the Stroke Play to a 36-hole championship in an effort to give the grounds crew ample time to get the course ready. Tee times will begin at 10 a.m. Wednesday.