Final Recap
By Paul Kenyon
MIDDLETOWN _ Tyler Cooke was a double winner on Wednesday as the RIGA tournament season drew to a close on a gorgeous fall day at Wanumetonomy, not only taking the 20th Burke Memorial title but capturing the association’s player-of-the-year award, as well.
The former college hockey player at UCONN battled through strong winds to record an even-par 70, for a 54-hole total of 2-over 215, two strokes better than Ryan Pelletier, who began the day with the lead.
Pelletier posted a closing 74, which tied for second lowest score of the day. It was not enough, though, because Cooke played so steadily, with two birds offsetting two bogeys. It completed a season that saw Cooke tie for low amateur in State Open, finish second in the Mid Amateur and eighth in the Stroke play in addition to winning the Burke,
He began the event 170 points behind Jamie Lukowicz in the player-of-the-year race. Lukowicz, who had taken a four-stroke lead in the first round at Shelter Harbor back in May, was unable to play this week because he is away in North Carolina on business. With first place in the Burke worth 220 points, Cooke was the only player in the field who could pass Lukowicz. But he had to finish first to do it.
He was very much aware of what he needed for the last two days.
``Bob (Ward, the RIGA director) told me about it on the first tee yesterday,’’ he said. ``You try not to think about it. You think one shot at a time and hitting fairways and greens.’’
If there was a key point in giving him control, it came on the ninth hole. He was 1-over for the day to that point and drive right, very close to one of the new, small trees that have been played along the right side. He had a shot but had to punch it low up the hill to the green. He did exactly that, hitting it to five feet. He made the putt for bird. Pelletier hung close, but lost any chance with a six on the par-5 16th hole.
Cooke’s player-of-the-year honor keeps the award in the family. His brother-in-law, Bobby Leopold had it, Leopold won the Burke in 2009, 2010, 2012 and 2013. He was the association’s player of the year in 2009, 2011, 2014 and 2017.
Leopold played in the final threesome with Cooke the last two days and settled for third at 219, four behind Cooke.
While Cooke took his big day in low key style, no one was any happier than Rob Grossguth, who won the Senior Division. A frequent contender for more than two decades, Grossguth had never won an individual title until he posted a 76 for a 220 total, six better than Mike Arter.
``I finally did it. I had to wait until I became a senior to do it, but I’m happy I finally did it,’’ the amiable West Warwick star said.
As glorious as the day was with bright sunshine and near 80 degree temperatures, Grossguth spoke for everyone in saying that he was not unhappy with a 76. Gusty winds coming off the bay made every shot a challenge.
``It was every shot,’’ Grossguth said. ``I like playing in the wind but today you could hit a 5-iron from 140 yards (into the wind) and a 5-iron from 220 (downwind).’’
Paul Quigley had one of his worst days on the course with an 80 and settled for a tie for fifth in the Senior Division, but it was enough to wrap up another Senior Player-of-the-Year Award for the Hall of Famer.
Quigley was the overall player-of-the-year winner in 1987 and 1992 and now has taken the senior player-of-the-title seven times, 2007, 2009, 2010, 2012, 2015 and 2016 in addition to this year.
``I just didn’t have it this week,’’ the tireless 73-year-old said. ``But it’s always great to be out here and play our great golf courses.
Round 2 Recap
By Paul Kenyon
NEWPORT _ The five month wait to complete the 20th John Burke Memorial Championship has brought about at least two major changes, namely more intrigue and much nicer weather.
The event, postponed from May because of bad weather, resumed Tuesday at hallowed Newport Country Club, Burke’s home course, with the tournament leader gone. Jamie Lukowicz had posted a 67 at Shelter Harbor back in May, good enough for a four-shot lead. Combined with a strong summer, Lukowicz looked to be on his way not only to winning the Burke, but becoming the RIGA’s player of the year.
However, Lukowicz was not able to finish the event. He works in pharmaceutical sales and is in North Carolina on business. Lukowicz played so well this year that there is only one player in position to pass him for player of the year, Tyler Cooke. Cooke must win the event to pick up the 220 points that go to the winner and move past Lukowicz.
Cooke, who currently is 170 points behind Lukowicz, shot a 1-under 71 on Tuesday to stand at 145 in a tie for second place with his brother-in-law Bobby Leopold, two off the lead.
Those two and everyone else will be chasing Ryan Pelletier. The former Four-Ball champion went out early and took advantage of the beautiful fall weather (temperatures in the 70s) to record a dazzling 5-under 67. Combined with his 76 in the opening round, it left Pelletier at even-par 143.
In the Senior Division, Rob Grossguth surged to the lead thanks to a wild 1-under 71 for 144 total. (The seniors play the shorter tees.)
Grossguth began with bogeys in each of the first three holes, three of the easiest holes on the course. Everything changed beginning at 8 when he put together one of the most spectacular runs of the season in any tournament all year. Grossguth went 7-under-par in the next six holes.
He birdied 8 and 9. He went over the par-5 10th in two, and holed out from the back bunker for eagle. He birdied 10, 11 and 12. Even with bogeys at 15, 16 and 17, he finished under par. He is two strokes ahead of Chris O’Neill in the Senior Division. ONeill had 72 for 146.
The day also included an eagle on the par-4 6th by Jeff Kern. Kern hit his drive on the hole into the left rough, then hit a six-iron second shot. It looked good but the players could not see exactly where it went. They did not see the ball and searched for it behind the green, without success.
``I was going to go back and hit another shot,’’ Kern said. ``But I thought why not look in the hole. That’s where it was.’’ He finished with an 82.
The day provided a memory for a lot of the players that can happen only at Newport. For part of the day, two cruise ships were in position across Ocean Drive where they were clearly visible. On the par-3 14th, where the tee is just below the clubhouse, players could aim for a cruise ship as they hit their tee shots into the wind coming off the ocean.
The final round will be contested Wednesday, with the gross division moving to Wanumetonomy and the net players coming to Newport.
Story By Paul Kenyon
CHARLESTOWN _ Jamie Lukowicz got the RIGA tournament season off to a flying start on Tuesday, making seven birdies on the way to a 4-under-par 67 at Shelter Harbor, good enough for a four-stroke lead in the 20th John Burke Memorial Championship.
Now, he has to wait five months to see if he can close the deal.
The event had been scheduled to have its third and final round on Tuesday. However, the bad weather that dominated the early spring caused postponement of each of the first two rounds last week at Newport and Wanumetonomy. Instead, the day at Shelter Harbor counts as the first round and the final two will not be contested until October when the host course will be available.
“I hope we’re all still around then. You never know,” Lukowicz said. “But I was happy today, I played well.”
After all the bad weather, the day was beautiful with total sunshine and little wind until the afternoon at the course that has jumped into the ranks as among the best in the state in the 13 years since it opened. The rolling, open layout with some of the best practice facilities in the state can play 7,000 yards, but was set up at 6,469 for opening day. The greens were in mid-season condition.
“The greens are outstanding. They’re fast but true. All you had to do was get the ball rolling on the right line,” said Lukowicz, who is a two-time Mid-Amateur champion and was beaten finalist to Billy Forcier in last year’s State Amateur.
While Lukowicz is one of the longest hitters in the state, it was his work on the par 3s that stood out on Tuesday. He had deuces on three of the short holes, the 195-yard fourth, 178-yard sixth and 133-yard 11th.
The final par-3 was not as kind. Coming off his seventh bird on the par-5 16th, Lukowicz bogeyed the 178-yard 17th.
“I three-putted from about 20 feet,” he said. A fat approach on the closing hole led to another bogey and forced him to settle for a 67.
The 67 was the only score under par. Two-time amateur champion Bobby Leopold, and Austin Cilley, who will graduate from Rhode Island College on Saturday, tied for second with 71s.
Leopold did not have any bogeys on the way to his even-par round. However, he did have a double on the par-4 eighth, which he offset with birds on two of the par 5s, 9 and 16.
The new name among the contenders is Cilley, although he is not a new name on the area sports scene. He was an All-State basketball player at Westerly High. He went to RIC four years ago and was making an immediate impact as a shooter before seriously hurting his back.
He now is focused on golf. He had several solid starts in events last year, played for the RIC golf team and is coming on strong. His 71 was highlighted by an eagle on the par-5 16th. He also had three birds.
Jason Kalin, Tyler Cooke and George Cidale were next at 74.
Jamie Lukowicz’ long time Four-Ball partner, Rob Grossguth, led the senior division with a 73. The seniors played from the white tees, about 250 yards shorter. It is Grossguth’s first event as a senior, which is for players 55 and older.
The tournament continues on Wednesday when the net division plays its opening round at Shelter Harbor. Because of the change in dates with the weather problems, the event had a net loss of about 10 players in both the gross and net divisions. That includes those who had to drop out and others who were able to sign up because of the date changes.
Brad Valois, who won the event each of the last two years, is not competing this year.