URI Golf Season Preview
The University of Rhode Island men’s golf team begins its 2021-22 season on Saturday at the Lagowitz Memorial at Colgate.
After finishing fourth in the A10 last year, the Rams are looking forward to a full year of competition after Covid shortened, or completely eliminated their last few semesters.
“My excitement level is sky high because last semester we only played three tournaments, the semester before that was maybe one and the semester before that was zero,” URI Head Coach Gregg Burke told GolfNewsRI.
The biggest change for the Rams this season will be no Chris Francouer.
Francoeur graduated from URI last year and is playing his final season at Louisville.
“It’s like we are losing a MJ, now we need some other guys to step up. We bring back four guys that played in the A10s last year and if they all get better that will help,” said Burke.
Team Breakdown
Those responsible for filling the shoes of Francoeur include junior Bryson Richards, who is likely to be URI’s number one player.
A few months ago, Richards won the Vermont Amateur pretty easily.
“He played great, he had chase to win Vermont open and didn’t play well in the last round. The Vermont Amateur, he just shredded field. I’m looking forward to watching him play,” said Burke.
Another player that URI will rely on is redshirt senior Brandan Gillis.
Gillis has gone through some life struggles over the last few years, but Burke says this season “he will play his best golf ever.”
“Brandon Gillis comes into this season in better physical and mental shape than any time in his life, and I expect to see some early flashes of how gifted he really is,” Burke added.
The other player the Rams will rely on is sophomore Andrew DiPetrillo.
“Another guy who has completely impressed me is Andrew DiPetrillo who has completely dedicated himself to a physical and mental transformation and is starting to score the way his game promised when he was a dominant junior,” Burke said.
Two URI newcomers will battle for the final spots, Berry College transfer Jack Tegan and freshman Chuck Tragesser.
“He has an unbelievable golf swing, had a pretty good summer. It’s a big adjustment for him, he is eight hours from home. With Covid, he has an even bigger adjustment because he didn’t get the full college visit experience,” Burke says.
Senior Austin Fox and sophomore Nate Ingram round out the the URI roster.
Schedule Breakdown
The Rams open with the Lagowitz Memorial Tournament, which Burke says is going to be a bit of a warm up for next week’s VCU Invitational.
“This tournament we are playing 6 and counting 4. So this tournament I’m looking to see who is ready to go. In some ways, this is the all time qualifier. This tournament will help us determine next week’s lineup,” said Burke.
Burke adds that the VCU Invitational boasts the second-best field that he has ever faced as a coach.
The Rams will have to play well to get a high finish.
From VCU, the Rams head to Villanova for the Wildcat Fall Invitational, before the UConn Invitational and the close the fall season with the Georgetown Intercollegiate.