By Dalton Balthaser

 

PROVIDENCE – As Larry Lafauci, Jr. dropped to his knees and covered his head in a towel, the spirits of those he lost and the encouragement of those who still stand brought his life full circle.

 

Lafauci, a product of Triggs Memorial Golf Course, spent his youth at the Donald Ross design in the summer because of his grandparents Larry and Ann. They lived on 72 Clematis Street just one mile from Triggs.

 

The first person he saw once he removed the towel from his face was his friend of more than 30 years, Tom McCormick, whom he met at Triggs when he was 7. They only embraced like lifelong friends can, with a bear hug that seemed to last decades.

 

Lafauci defeated McCormick and Chris Flowers in a sudden-death playoff with a 25-footer for birdie on the first playoff hole, No. 1 (par 4, 402 yards), to claim the 29th Rhode Island Mid-Amateur Thursday at Triggs (par 72, 6,522 yards).

 

The three of them finished at 2 under for the tournament. Lafauci's 69 tied the low round of the tournament. He played his last nine holes in 4 under to get into the playoff.

 

“My grandmother and grandfather lived right down the street from Triggs,” said Lafauci, 41, of Cranston. “I carry her medal with me. It’s so tough to talk about because they meant everything to me. She used to play golf at Triggs and that’s how I got started in golf. I promised my grandfather just before he died in 2007 that I would win a RIGA event on my own. To be able to make do on that promise means so much.”

 

But for a period of 10 years, Lafauci gave up competitive golf. A game that he once thought he had figured out, took the life out of him.

 

“What people don’t understand is that when you think you are doing well in golf, the game can humble you,” said Lafauci, of Kirkbrae Country Club. “I played in national championships in college and won club championships at Metacomet. I felt like I had it all when I was young. And then I lost it all. That was tough to swallow. It’s so hard because you have these memories of what you used to be.”

 

But the encouragement of McCormick and close friend John Damiano pushed Lafauci to find the courage to get back involved in competitive golf.

 

“Tom is my brother,” said Lafauci. “I can’t describe in words what he means to me. He keeps me going and got me back playing competitive golf. There’s been plenty of dark moments, but he believes in me. He’s like the magic man. Whenever he’s around I do something special. Being in the playoff with him was fate. I would give my life for him.”

 

Lafauci started the day, four shots behind the leader and when he made the turn in 1 over, he thought he was once again an afterthought.

 

But once he rolled in a 35-footer for birdie on No. 16 (par 4, 319 yards) to get to 2 under, he was one shot off the lead.

 

“I was just trying to make a good finish,” said Lafauci. “Even though I was on the outside looking in at the time, I knew anything could happen. I was just trying to keep making good swings. I didn’t think I was in it at all. I thought I was too far back.”

 

Five-time champion Bobby Leopold got to 4 under but made a costly triple bogey on the same hole and would finish at 1 under. Setting up at the least a playoff between he and McCormick. Flowers, of Button Hole Golf Club made it a trio after he rolled in a birdie on the last (par 4, 410 yards).

 

“It’s great to be in the fraternity of guys in the RIGA circuit,” said Lafauci. “For me, no one was more influential to me getting back on track this season than Mike Soucy. He spent hours with me at Valley Country Club on all aspects of golf to help me get back to playing well. I called him up in June and if it wasn’t for him, I wouldn’t have qualified for match play in the Amateur. So many people have backed me and supported me, I wouldn’t be here without a lot of people.”

 

Nothing sets up a fairy-tale story like sports. Lafauci could have spent every day of those 10 years away from competitive golf dreaming of something like this. Thursday at the place that shaped him, he watched it played out in real life.

 

“To do this here at Triggs will be my crowning achievement in golf,” said Lafauci. “Even if I go and win the Rhode Island Amateur next year, it will never come close to this. Wherever my grandmother and grandfather are, I can assure you this is a great day for them.”

 

Senior Division

 

EJ Wholey couldn’t help but be motivated by his clubmates’ success.

 

Dave McNally won the Senior Division of the Stroke Play and McNally and Chris Markiewicz claimed the Senior Four-Ball (Gross) at Quinnatisset Country Club. And last week, Tim Murray claimed the Rhode Island Senior Amateur at Rhode Island Country Club.

 

It has been a banner year for Quinnatisset in the Senior Circuit.

 

Wholey, aided by three consecutive birdies on the back nine, claimed the Senior Division of the #RIMidAm Thursday at Triggs (par 72, 6,302 yards).

 

“It means a lot,” said Wholey, 59, of Chepachet. “Being the fourth senior from Quinnatisset to win a RIGA event this year is awesome. I have been playing in RIGA events for a long time, it is nice to finally get over the hump. I finally played well and closed the deal.”

 

His two-day total of 1 over was good enough for a one-shot victory over Kirkbrae’s John Auclair and Wannamoisett Country Club’s Darren Corrente. 

 

Wholey fought from behind the whole event. He played the first five holes in a total of 6 over for the tournament. But he played the final 13 holes in 5 under both days.

 

He took the lead after birdies on Nos. 11 (par 4, 340 yards), 12 (par 3, 195 yards) and 13 (par 5, 447 yards). He hit a sand wedge from 75 yards to four feet on No. 11. 

 

He holed out from the right greenside bunker on No. 12 and then he two-putted for birdie on No. 13.

 

Even though he made a double bogey on No. 15 (par 5, 496 yards), Wholey still survived.

 

“The last two months I have finally been healthy,” said Wholey. “It all comes down to whether I can practice and play enough. When the body feels good, my game usually comes around.”

 

Throughout the entirety of the round, Wholey remained calm and kept his eyes off the leaderboard. He just wanted to focus on what he could control. Now he gets to bring yet another piece of hardware back to his club.

 

“We’ve got a ton of good players at Quinny,” said Wholey. “Each time you play, you must have your best. If you don’t, you will get your butt kicked. There’s certainly a lot of motivation to get better. I’m just going to keep grinding. It is nice to get that big proverbial monkey off my back though.”