By Dalton Balthaser
PORTSMOUTH – Living in Canada, Matt Shubley often finds himself on the road.
Usually, a trip to the United States results in Shubley sleeping in an unfamiliar bed and playing unknown golf courses.
But a trip to Rhode Island is as close to a home game as it gets for Shubley.
“My girlfriend lives in the area, so I came down here to stay with her for the week,” said Shubley, 25, of Ontario, Canada. “To be able to come down here and play well in what’s the closest thing to a home game for me in the United States means a lot.”
Channeling that feeling, Shubley put together his best and carded a final round of 66 to win the 89th Rhode Island Open Tuesday at Green Valley Country Club (par 71, 6,830 yards).
His two-day total of 7 under was good enough for a two-shot victory over Ryan Gendron of East Falmouth, Mass. Gendron finished with a final round of 67.
Day One leader Blake Morris of Waterbury, Conn., finished in a tie for third at 4 under after a final-round 72.
Mike Calef of Wanumetonomy Golf & Country Club and Austin Cilley of Button Hole Golf Club shared low amateur honors at 1 under.
“It’s pretty great to be the Rhode Island Open Champion,” said Shubley. “It is nice to see all the hard work has been paying off.”
Shubley has had success in this event at Green Valley before. He finished in a tie for fifth in 2019, which was the last time the #RIOpen was played. The event was cancelled in 2020 due to the COVID-19 Pandemic.
“This golf course reminds me a lot of Oshawa Golf Club, my home course in Canada,” said Shubley, who graduated from Sacred Heart University in Connecticut in 2018. “It’s treelined and they have firmer, and faster greens like at Green Valley. You have to keep the ball in the fairway to get the ball close to the hole.”
Shubley had plenty of work to do to chase Morris. He sat three shots back of Morris after the first round. He was in an identical situation in 2019 where he shot 72 in the final round after an opening round of 69.
“I was excited to play today,” said Shubley. “I got here a little earlier than I normally would to try and make sure every part of my game was ready. I hit some loose shots yesterday and wanted to clean them up. I had 8 under in my head as my target number. I knew I needed to make birdies to have a chance. Each time I made a birdie I kept saying I needed to make one more to push myself.”
Shubley started quick with a birdie on No. 1 (par 4, 370 yards). He hit a pitching wedge from 130 yards to 25 feet and canned the putt.
He added another birdie on No. 4 (par 5, 550 yards) after hitting a chip to tap-in range.
When he made the turn, he told himself he needed four more birdies. That’s exactly what he did.
Birdies on Nos. 10 (par 5, 613 yards), 13 (par 4, 342 yards) and 15 (par 4, 340 yards) all involved putts inside of 10 feet. A testament to his ball striking. He mixed in a bogey on No. 11 (par 3, 229 yards).
But the shot of the day that ultimately gave him the breathing room he needed was a cross-country 60-foot bomb on No. 16 (par 4, 407 yards).
It was smooth sailing from there.
Shubley has conditional status on the PGA TOUR Canada, which allows him to play in the events in Canada. COVID-19 restrictions in Canada only allow Canadians to play in those events.
Because of that, the PGA TOUR created the Forme Tour, a subsidiary of the PGA TOUR Canada for players from the states with similar status.
Shubley said winning this event would help push him forward. A key to staying afloat on the mini tours of professional golf.
“In professional golf, when you aren’t playing well you practice hard and try to focus harder,” said Shubley. “When you are playing well you stay on for the ride and see how long you can make it last. You can’t live at the golf course. Since golf is my job, you must have a work and life balance.
“It was nice to put a good final round together. Doing so, gives me confidence in future situations. I am happy with how this week went. I am excited to keep it going.”