Leopold in Mix, Hamilton Looks to Bounce Back at Gasparilla Invitational
Rhode Island Stroke Play champion Mike Hamilton and former RI Amateur Champion Bobby Leopold are through round one of the Gasparilla Invitational down in Tampa, Florida.
Leopold is in a tie for 10th and four shots off the lead, while Hamilton will hope to bounce back on Friday, after a three-over round Thursday.
The Gasparilla Invitational is a National Mid-Am event featuring players from all over the country.
Florida’s Chip Brooke has the round one lead at 6-under par.
Leopold Fires 2-under
Former RI Amateur Champion Bobby Leopold was on the course early in the morning.
He got off to a great start, making an eagle 3 on the par 5 third hole to get to two under par.
He parred the remainder of the front nine to make the turn at 2-under.
Leopold would make bogey on two of the next three holes to drop back to even par. However, he would recover.
He dropped a birdie putt on the par three 13th hole and then birdied the last to finish the day back at two-under.
He is currently tied for 10th, four shots off the lead heading into round two.
Tough Day for Hamilton
Mike Hamilton started his day on the 12th hole where he made par.
He then went birdie, bogey, birdie over the next three holes to get to one-under par.
After pars on 16 and 17, Hamilton bogeyed the 18th hole to make the first turn at even par.
On the front side, Hamilton bogeyed the par five third hole, the sixth hole and seventh hole to fall to three over.
Looking for a birdie on the way in, he was unable to get one to drop in.
He finished three-over for the day and in a tie for 70th.