Moniz, Corrente Win John P. Burke Memorial
By Joe McDonald
RIGA Senior Writer
PORTSMOUTH – Cam Moniz is one of the most well-respected players on the RIGA circuit. He’s normally finds himself in contention at different points during tournaments, but he hasn’t been able to finish on the winning side.
That changed this week.
Moniz, 32, of Seekonk, won the 25th John P. Burke Memorial Tournament after a solid two-day performance split between Newport Country Club and Green Valley Country Club. A member at Swansea Country Club, Moniz shot 74-67 – 141 to outlast Kirkbrae’s Larry Lafauci, Jr., who went 68-75 – 143. Even though Moniz shot a 74 Tuesday at Newport, he carded a seven on No. 17 and wasn’t happy with his finish. He responded in a big way Wednesday at Green Valley.
“It feels great,” he said. “Kind of left a sour taste in my mouth, finishing up like I did (Tuesday) at Newport. I knew I could come back and try to get it going today.”
Lafauci, who recently won the Rhode Island Mid-Amateur Championship, was the leader after Round 1 with a solid 68 at Newport. Moniz erased a six-stroke deficit and finished strong Wednesday at Green Valley. Both players were tied at 1-under down the stretch, but Moniz chipped in for birdie on No. 16, produced an impressive up-and-down from behind the green to save par on No. 17, and dominated No. 18 with a tap-in birdie.
“I knew I had to make a couple of birdies coming in,” he said. “I wasn’t really checking the leader board all day and just wanted to stay in it. I wasn’t making it easy for myself. I was missing a lot of greens coming in and luckily the chip in (No. 17) bailed me out. Then to hit a good shot on 18 and a tap-in for bird felt good.”
Moniz has been caddying at Newport Country Club for six years and he used that local knowledge this week to his benefit. He also spends the winters caddying at Dye Preserve Golf Club in Jupiter, Fla. Several players remained at the end of the day to congratulate Moniz for his Burke Memorial victory.
“It means a ton,” Moniz said. “You see them tournament-in, tournament-out and we’re all rooting for each other. It’s just a great group of guys out here.”
Despite Mother Nature’s assault on the golf world this summer with so much rain, the fall conditions both days at Newport and Portsmouth were outstanding.
“You couldn’t ask for better weather,” he said. “It was a beautiful day in Newport (Tuesday) and it almost felt like a summer day today. It was special.”
SENIOR DIVISION
It’s been a good golf season for Wannamoisett’s Darren Corrente. He became the Rhode Island Senior Amateur champion this summer with an impressive victory at Pawtucket Country Club, and he added to his trophy case this week, becoming the Senior Division Champion at the 25th John P. Burke Memorial Tournament.
He posted a two-day total of 71-72 – 143 to earn his victory. Corrente admitted he was fighting his swing at the start of Round 2 and felt he was holding back due to his lack of course knowledge at Green Valley.
“I was a little tentative initially,” he said. “I played with three really good guys (Tim Murray, John Auclair and Chris O’Neill) who I got to see where they were hitting a few times because I made a couple of errors early, so I didn’t have the honor. It started to come together on the back for me and made a couple of birdies.”
Corrente is the type of player who doesn’t pay attention to the leader board, but he knew he was in contention based on his playing partners’ body language.
“I was just trying to shoot the best score I could shoot,” he said. “My golf has been very solid. Being at Wannamoisett you play with really good players, and you have to be on your game. I get extra time to chip and putt, so I work on that, which really helps, and my putting has been good the last two days. All-around, my game’s in a pretty good place.”
After he won the Senior Amateur, he met his wife in Italy for vacation. This time he’s focused on the upcoming Tri-State match against Massachusetts and Connecticut at Wampanoag Country Club in West Hartford, Conn.
“I’m going to East Hartford, Connecticut,” he said with a laugh. “I’m looking forward to it.”