By Dalton Balthaser
CRANSTON – It’s rare that you accomplish a couple of first-time feats in the same round of golf.
All it means is Joe Tucker had a day to remember.
Tucker fired a bogey-free round of 68 to take the Day One lead of the 38th Rhode Island Stroke Play Monday at Alpine Country Club (par 72, 6,627 yards).
It was his first bogey-free tournament round and his career-best tournament round all in the same 18 holes.
Defending champion Mike Hamilton of Kirkbrae Country Club sits in a tie for 16th at 1 over. The cut fell at 76.
“I’ve been trying to play as much golf as I can this summer,” said Tucker, 22, of Warwick. “Today, the work I have been putting in showed. I didn’t make any mistakes and was consistent throughout the round. I want to try to squeeze another birdie or two out of my round. But if you don’t make bogeys, you are going to shoot a good score.”
Tucker, who plays collegiately at the College of Coastal Georgia, started quick with an easy two-putt birdie on No. 2 (par 5, 510 yards). A throttled 2-iron from 225 yards set him up just in front of the green.
He made the turn in 2 under after another two-putt birdie on No. 8 (par 5, 540 yards). He ripped a 3-wood from 255 yards to just short of the green.
He added two more birdies, thanks to his flatstick. 15-footers on Nos. 11 (par 4, 371 yards) and 13 (par 4, 407 yards) got him to his magic number of 4 under.
But while those birdies carried him to the top, it was a key par save on the last (par 4, 428 yards) that kept all the momentum intact.
After missing the green with his trusty 8-iron, Tucker hit a saucy chip to a foot to keep his card clean.
“I wasn’t worried about possibly making bogey on the last,” said Tucker. “But being able to save par was huge. 4 under is a good starting point and hopefully I can get into a nice groove during the 36 holes tomorrow.”
All competitors who made the cut will play 36 holes on Tuesday to determine a champion. Last year, the event was only 36 holes due to weather at Quinnatisset Country Club.
“36 holes can do a lot to you mentally,” said Tucker, of Valley Country Club. “I’ll need to keep eating and stay hydrated. I want to keep the same mindset of making birdies. If I make a bogey, that’s not a problem. I just have to be smart. If I make a mistake, I’ll use my short game. I need to trust myself.”
Tucker’s game is one of great rhythm and timing. A swing many would be envious of. A smooth action that rewards him with consistency. And a steady short game that cleans up his mistakes.
“I need to keep the ball in the fairway,” said Tucker, who made match play in the Rhode Island Amateur at Kirkbrae. “You can make some big numbers out here if you aren’t keeping your ball in play. My driver was solid today. I feel like my ball-striking is solid, but I am always fighting the putter. If I continue to hit the ball well, that relieves pressure from my putter. Hopefully, I can keep it going tomorrow.”
Tucker’s name has been a staple on RIGA leaderboards for several years but doesn’t have much to show for it. His game continues to prove that he belongs. The door is open for him, he just has to walk through it.
“I have to stop being so hard on myself,” said Tucker. “I take the game quite seriously and sometimes I can lose sight of why I play the game. I need to keep things simple out there and not think about it too much. That helps me deal with the anxiety you can have on the golf course. Not getting frustrated and not losing focus are the keys for me to be able to win one of these.”
Senior Division
Agawam Hunt’s Bruce Heterick charged out in front of the Senior Division with a round of 2-under-par 70 at Alpine (par 72, 6,317 yards).
Heterick mixed four birdies with two bogeys to hold the lead by two shots over Wannamoisett Country Club’s Darren Corrente.
A total of nine seniors made the cut with scores of 76 or better.