GolfNewsRI

Rhode Island may be the smallest state, but it is full of great golf talent, with more on the way. 

Whether it’s talent that is still playing locally or talent that has taken the next step in their careers, Rhode Island has a lot to be excited about in 2022. 

With the Players to Watch, GolfNewsRI aims to highlight two men’s and two women’s players that could be/will be making moves during the 2022 season. 

And not necessarily the star players. 

So without further ado, here are GolfNewsRI’s Men’s Players to Watch in 2022:

Will Dickson

Will Dickson was the first and only player (so far) to win four straight high school State Championships. 

After four years at Georgia Tech, Dickson turned pro late last season, joining the G-Pro Tour down in Georgia, as GolfNewsRI reported. 

In his first and only pro tournament of 2021, Dickson snagged a top ten finish. 

In 2022, Dickson will be playing his first full season as a pro, playing tournament on almost a weekly basis in hopes of climbing the money list. 

“What club companies and agents want to see is you play a full schedule, 20-25 tournaments a year and if you can finish in the top 10 of the money list on a mini-tour then that lets people know you can actually play with the best pros out there that are trying to make it,” Dickson told GolfNewsRI back in October. 

If things go well, Dickson could be enrolling in Q-School later in the year. 

The G-Pro Tour’s 2022 season starts in February. 

Harry Dessel

Max Jackson will certainly be the one that everyone is focused on once the local golf season gets underway, and rightfully so. 

However, for this upcoming 2022 season, a player to watch is Harry Dessel. 

In 2021, Dessel had a great year, he just couldn’t snag a victory. 

Dessel led Moses Brown to a top five finish at the State Championship, then made it to match play of the Rhode Island Amateur. 

At the Stroke Play Championship, Dessel held the lead for a good portion of the final round and then took Jackson to the last hole of the RI Junior Amateur Championship. 

It took an incredible iron shot by Jackson to seal the win at Rhode Island Country Club. 

Dessel also hit the road and played the Junior North South Amateur at Pinehurst, as well as, some other tournaments around the region. 

Now, Dessel is in his senior season at Moses Brown with college golf right around the corner. 

This could be a big year for Harry Dessel. 

Honorable mentions: 

Brad Valois – His return to prominence on the RI golf scene.  

Ryan Marcantonio – Can he lead East Greenwich to a state title? 

Davis Chatfield – Potentially his last run through the Amateur Golf circuit?