CAPE ELIZABETH — Rhode Island grabbed a commanding 16-shot lead over two-time defending champion Massachusetts on the opening day of the New England Junior Amateur Invitational Golf Tournament Monday at the Purpoodock Club.
Maine is in sixth place after two rounds.
“We have a young team,” said Zach Golojuch, the junior coordinator for the Maine State Golf Association.
“This is a new experience for five of our players. This is a team building experience. The experience gained this year will benefit them next year. They’re all good players. They might feel more pressure in a team competition because they don’t want to let their teammates down. They’re still having a good time. Look at their smiles.”
Maine has two 14-year-olds and a 15-year-old. All three are playing in their first New England Junior. The tournament is for players age 17 and under. Each state has seven players with the top five scores each round counting for a team’s score.
Rhode Island was led by Patrick Welch, Davis Chatfield and Riley Griffin who all had rounds in the 60s. Griffin shot a 69 in the morning round and Chatfield and Welch shot 68 and 69 in the afternoon. Welch is individual leader at 2-under 140. Welch is just 15, but is playing in his third New England Junior.
Welch also has another distinction: He plays cross-handed.
“When I started playing at 10, that’s how I held the club,” said Welch. “It just seemed natural. I play baseball and bat left-handed. My hands are in the same position on the bat as they are on the golf club playing right-handed.”
Welch takes a good follow-through on his swing and is accurate. Last month, he was the medalist in the stroke play portion of the Rhode Island amateur championship.
Welch and his teammates thought they would do well in the tournament.
“I just didn’t think we would have a 16-shot lead after the first day,” Welch said.
Scott Cook, Rhode Island’s junior coordinator, said the players have all proven themselves in Rhode Island state tournaments and beyond.
Rhode Island led Massachusetts, which has won the last two tournaments, 363-369, after the morning round. Rhode Island pulled away in the afternoon, with scores of 68, 69, 74 and two 75s for their afternoon total.
“You know it’s a good team when they can throw out a 78,” said Golojuch.
After the second round, Rhode Island had a total score of 724. Massachusetts was second at 740, followed by Connecticut (748), New Hampshire and Vermont, both 762 and Maine (776).
Maine’s top scorer is 14-year-old Cole Anderson of Camden. He shot 72 in the morning and 76 in the afternoon. He will be a freshman at Camden Hills High in the fall and plays at the Samoset Resort.
“I drove it well,” said Anderson. “I didn’t putt well, but I hung in there and posted a couple of good scores.”
Anderson plays hockey and baseball in school, but this is the first time he is on a team for golf.
“It’s a lot of fun. We’re all good friends,” he said.
Alex Giroux of Vermont had the shot of the day. He hit a hole-in-one on the 185-yard, 15th hole. He had just made a seven on 14.
Griffin called Purpoodock “very scoreable”
“If you hit the ball in the right spots, it gives you chances for birdies,” Griffin said. “There’s a lot of risk and reward out there. The course played firm and fast.”
The final 18 holes are scheduled for Tuesday morning.
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