By Dalton Balthaser

 

BARRINGTON – There are plenty of ways for two golfers to end up with the same score.

 

Both Bennett Masterson and Harry Dessel carded rounds of 69 to share medalist honors in the Stroke-Play Qualifying portion of the 100th Rhode Island Junior Amateur Championship Monday at Rhode Island Country Club (par 71, 5,964 yards).

 

The cutline for the Championship Division fell at 76.

 

But their rounds couldn’t have been more different.

 

Masterson made a total of seven birdies and an eagle. He also was 7 over on three holes. 

 

Dessel played his steady game with four birdies and two bogeys.

 

“It’s funny, I haven’t been feeling good about my game at all before this event,” said Masterson. “I didn’t play for the last four or five days and I had a cold. Yesterday I played Richmond Country Club. I called every golf course in the state and couldn’t get a tee time. I just wasn’t sure what to expect.”

 

Masterson will be the No. 1 seed in match play beginning Tuesday. Dessel will be the No. 2 seed. This was determined based on who finished their found first. Masterson teed off at 7:54 a.m. and Dessel at 8:39 a.m.

 

Masterson, of The Misquamicut Club, made a total of four birdies on the front nine but mixed in a triple bogey after he hit his ball into the grounds maintenance area on No. 7 (par 4, 422 yards).

 

He rebounded nicely on the back nine with a two-putt birdie on No. 11 (par 5, 470 yards). He striped his 5-iron from 208 yards to 25 feet.

 

He then almost made a hole-in-one on No. 12 (par 4, 300 yards). He hit a driver all the way to the front of the green and it rolled just by the hole. A two-footer for an eagle is as easy as it gets.

 

“I honestly thought I made it,” said Masterson. “That would have been an awesome story to tell.”

 

His next two birdies came as a result of crisp approach shots. A 60-degree wedge from 92 yards to a foot on No. 15 (par 4, 346 yards) and a 7-iron from 186 yards to six feet on No. 16 (par 4, 380 yards) got him back to 4 under.

 

“I felt like if I could get wedges into the green I would be set up for success,” said Masterson, 18, of Westerly. “Misquamicut is relatively short, and I hit a lot of wedges there so I am comfortable with them.”

 

But Masterson’s already chaotic scorecard added another notch on No. 18 (par 4, 340 yards). His approach hit the center of the green but spun off the green. He then 3-putted for double bogey to finish at 2 under.

 

“I have never played here before and my indecision cost me,” said Masterson, a rising senior at Avon Old Farms in Connecticut. “I didn’t commit to my tee shots on Nos. 7 and 13 (par 4, 421 yards). I need to be more decisive on the tee shots.”

 

Masterson made the Championship Flight in 2019 at Kirkbrae Country Club but didn’t compete in 2020. He lost in the Round of 16 in 2019. 

 

“Anything can happen in match play,” said Masterson. “If I focus on what I have to do and my own game, I feel good about where I am at. I am excited for the rest of the week.”

 

Dessel will be the most comfortable golfer this week at Rhode Island. It is his home club and a place where he spends a lot of time practicing and playing.

 

“It is cool to have this at my home club,” said Dessel, 18, of Barrington. “I was nervous today for sure. I was just happy to be able to play well enough to still have a chance to win this thing. I feel like my course knowledge is a huge advantage.”

 

Dessel made the turn in even par and then added birdies on Nos. 11 and 15.

 

He hit a 50-degree wedge from 110 yards to 15 feet on No. 11. A substandard 54-degree wedge from 90 yards to 20 feet on No. 15 left Dessel a bit disappointed. Not to worry, his flatstick bailed him out.

 

Dessel was a finalist the last two years and came up short in both matches. He also was a Quarterfinalist in the 116th Rhode Island Amateur at Kirkbrae in July. His game is there, he said it is time to capitalize.

 

“Throughout the last month, I have been playing some of the best golf that I ever have,” said Dessel, a rising senior at Moses Brown School. “My driver has been the biggest difference for me. I have figured out a swing that helps me hit it straighter. I want to give this another good run.”

 

Girls’ Division

 

Vinny Papa continues to turn heads. 

 

The recent Rhode Island Women’s Amateur medalist took home another honor. Medalist in the #RIGAJunior Girls’ Division with a round of 75 at Rhode Island (par 73, 5,525 yards).

 

Papa earns the No. 1 seed and will have a bye Tuesday. She will return to action on Wednesday.

 

Papa has been the outright medalist the last two years and she shared the honor with her sister Gianna in 2019 at Kirkbrae.

 

Papa, a rising eighth grader at Ponaganset Middle School, was 4 over through 16 holes looking for a spark. She birdied her final two holes to finish at 2 over.

 

She hit a pitching wedge on No. 17 (par 3, 115 yards) to four feet and rolled in a 15-footer on the last to finish strong.

 

“It was nice to finish the way that I did,” said Papa, 12, of Foster. “It gives me confidence moving forward in this event to know that I can make birdies after having a bad hole.”

 

The only real blemish on the card for Papa was a four-putt on No. 11 (par 5, 419 yards). She wasn’t worried about it at all. She said it will be a good experience to learn from.

 

“My approach shots were solid,” said Papa, of Pinecrest Golf Club. “I was able to get the ball close to the hole and not have to worry about trying to scramble for par. I usually struggle with my putting but if I continue to hit the ball close to the hole, then I won’t feel as much pressure with my putter. I am looking forward to the rest of the week. I love the golf course.”