By Dalton Balthaser

 

PROVIDENCE – Ever since Austin Cilley was a kid, basketball was his life.

 

He went to Rhode Island College to continue his passion at the collegiate level.

 

But when one of his teammates landed on him in live action, his body collapsed leaving him with injuries that would end his playing career.

 

That’s when Cilley started to play golf more regularly. 

 

Cilley, a staple on RIGA leaderboards for years, carded a round of 69 to grab the Round One lead of the 29th Rhode Island Mid-Amateur Tuesday at Triggs Memorial Golf Course (par 72, 6,522 yards).

 

“I am still learning a lot,” said Cilley, 27, of Westerly. I am relatively new to the game since I have only played for the last seven years. When I couldn’t play basketball anymore, golf became an avenue where I could get that competitive spirit back.” 

 

Cilley holds a one-shot lead over reigning Rhode Island Stroke Play champion Mike Hamilton of Kirkbrae Country Club and reinstated amateur Chris Flowers of Button Hole.

 

The cutline stopped at 77 with a total of 51 players advancing to Round Two.

 

“I’ve been playing pretty good,” said Cilley. “It is always a grind and a struggle with my ball striking. Usually, my short game and putting is pretty good, which keeps me in it. I hit it a mile right off the first tee today but was able to scramble for a par. That helped me a lot. Especially keeping my head in it after a bad swing to start the tournament.”

 

Cilley made the turn in 1 under thanks to two birdies and one bogey. He hit a 60-yard pitch to three feet on No. 8 (par 4, 341 yards) and a pitching wedge from 123 yards to 18 feet on No. 9 (par 4, 402 yards).

 

On the back nine he mixed three birdies with one bogey to card a round of 3 under.

 

He two-putted for birdie on No. 13 (par 5, 462 yards), rolled in a 12-footer on No. 15 (par 5, 508 yards) and feathered a 7-iron from 163 yards to 15 feet on No. 17 (par 4, 412 yards).

 

Cilley has been a steady figurehead when you look at RIGA leaderboards. Most notably, he lost in a playoff in this event in 2020 at Warwick Country Club.

 

“Putting two consistent rounds together has been the challenge for me the last few years,” said Cilley. “I would like to get a win for sure. I won three events when I played golf at Rhode Island College, so I have done it before, but it hasn’t translated to these events. Club championships are nice, but I am itching to win one of these events. I believe in myself and know I have the game to win. Hopefully now is my time.”

 

He's also been the Low Amateur at the Rhode Island Open the last three editions of the event in 2019, 2021 and 2022. He shared the honor in 2021 and 2022 and took it outright in 2019.

 

I think staying present will be key for me,” said Cilley. “I’ve been fortunate to talk to some guys in the RIGA circle that have won tournaments and get advice on how they go about it when the pressure is the highest. Learning how to navigate the stressful rounds is important. You just have to try to hit the best possible shot you can in a given circumstance and not think about anything else.

 

“I don’t necessarily get nervous, I get excited. I think I have had enough experience in basketball and golf to prepare myself for this moment. I just need to stay present. In basketball, I was always one of the smaller kids and in golf I got a late start. I feel like I have always been an underdog. I’m looking forward to the opportunity I have tomorrow.”

Senior Division

 

Kirkbrae Country Club’s John Auclair took the lead after a round of 71 at Triggs (par 72, 6,302 yards).

 

Auclair mixed four birdies with three bogeys to hold the lead by one shot over Valley Country Club’s Mike Soucy and Quinnatisset Country Club’s EJ Wholey.

 

A total of 24 seniors made the cut with scores of 78 or better. The Top 20 and ties in the Senior Division made the cut.