By Dalton Balthaser

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BARRINGTON – Sweat dripped down the forehead of Max Jackson as he approached what could be the most important shot of his young junior career.

 

Holding a 1-up advantage over Rhode Island Country Club’s Harry Dessel, Jackson faced an 8-iron from 155 yards from the right rough to a front hole location on No. 18 (par 4, 392 yards).

 

Unfazed, Jackson clutched up and hit the shot to three inches. There was nothing Dessel could do but shake his hand to congratulate him.

 

Jackson, the 2021 Rhode Island High School State Golf Champion, used a clutch putter to outlast Dessel, 1-up, to win the 100th Rhode Island Junior Amateur at Rhode Island (par 71, 6,393 yards).

 

“It means everything,” said Jackson, 15, of Cumberland. “This is the tournament I look forward to the most and prepare my game for the most. To finally win matches and grind this out is huge for me. All the time I have put into practicing has paid off.”

 

It’s a heartbreaking end to Dessel’s quest to claim the #RIGAJunior title in his last attempt on his home turf. He has now lost in the Final of this event for three consecutive years.

 

“It sucks,” said Dessel, 18, of Barrington and a rising senior at Moses Brown School. “Max played unbelievably well and putted even better. That was the big difference. The shot he hit on No. 18 was impressive.”

 

“Hats off to Harry,” said Jackson, a rising sophomore at La Salle Academy. “What a great competitor and person he is. I knew today was going to be a good match and it delivered. He was great to play with.”

 

They made the turn deadlocked. They each won two holes on the front but then on the back nine, Jackson’s putter caught fire.

 

“I didn’t get off to the greatest start with my putter,” said Jackson. “I missed two short birdie putts on the first two holes. I was making good strokes. I needed to keep trusting it. I just made an adjustment to reading the greens. I didn’t play as much break.”

 

He rolled in an 8-footer down the hill for birdie on No. 12 (par 4, 316 yards) to regain the outright lead. 

 

On No. 15 (par 4, 373 yards) Jackson hit a 54-degree wedge from 106 yards to 12 feet. After Dessel left his birdie try short from 15 feet, Jackson canned his to go 2-up with three to play.

 

And the rest is history.

“I am trying to keep riding this high while I can,” said Jackson. “Winning the Rhode Island High School Golf Championship was huge for me because I learned that I could compete with people older than me.” 

 

Jackson said he receives so much support from everyone at Pawtucket Country Club where he is a member. He plays and practices there all the time. His family and friends have been supportive of him ever since he picked up a club.

 

“My family has sacrificed a lot for me to be here,” said Jackson. “All of the traveling to and from events as well as them helping me find a place to play and practice. This means a lot to me to be able to win this for them too.”

 

Girls’ Division

 

It was love at first sight for Kylie Eaton and Rhode Island Country Club.

 

It became a comfortable place as the week went on and it will be a place she will always remember.

 

Eaton, aided by a strong tee to green game, claimed the Girls’ Division of the #RIGAJunior in a 2&1 victory over Olivia Williams of Potowomut Golf Club Friday (par 73, 5,525 yards).

 

“It means a lot to me,” said Eaton. “From the moment I saw this course for the first time during my practice round, I was in love with it. I wanted to do my best. It was nice to pull it off.”

 

Eaton made the turn with a 1-up advantage, thanks to a birdie on No. 9 (par 5, 411 yards). She used her length and hit a pitching wedge from 125 yards to the middle of the green.

 

She would get down in two for an easy birdie.

 

But then she turned it on beginning on No. 12 (par 4, 298 yards). She hit a 60-dgree wedge from 65 yards to 12 feet and converted to go 2-up.

 

She made eagle on No. 13 (par 5, 425 yards). She hit a 7-iron from 175 yards to 14 feet to seize a 3-up advantage.

 

She was dormie with four to play after winning No. 14 (par 4, 360 yards) with par.

 

Williams wouldn’t go down without a fight. She won Nos. 15 (par 4, 316 yards) and 16 (par 4, 374) but Eaton closed it out with a par on No. 17 (par 3, 115 yards).

 

“I am proud of the way I played this week,” said Williams, 14, of Cranston and a rising freshman at La Salle Academy. “I didn’t play poorly today, Kylie just played better. This was an important week for me and my confidence.”

 

Comfort will be a word that will be synonymous with Eaton’s triumph. She enlisted her sister Adriana to caddie for her in the Final. They matched up in the Quarterfinals and Kylie won 2-up. Her family watched her the entire week and her friends Lily Dessel and Morgan Macleod, who also competed this week, tagged along for the Final match.

 

“I wasn’t that nervous today,” said Eaton, 16, of Smithfield. “Having my sister caddie for me was important. I know Olivia well also. It was a comfortable pairing. I was more excited than anything.”

 

Kylie is the reigning club champion at her home club, Kirkbrae Country Club. The Men’s and Women’s Club Champions at Kirkbrae get a front-row parking spot. Her parents love it because she can’t drive quite yet.

 

Eaton said that this week is a huge boost for her as she enters her junior year at Moses Brown School in the fall.

 

“This week was a lot of fun,” said Eaton. “I’ll remember how much I love the course, my sister and I playing in a match again and the support I got from my family and friends. It feels great.”