Local Contingent Set for U.S. Amateur
Rhode Island is going to be well represented when the U.S. Amateur kicks off on Monday morning at Ridgewood Country Club in New Jersey.
Five Rhode Islanders – Bobby Leopold, Patrick Welch, Brad Valois, Andrew O’Leary and former URI star Chris Francoeur – are all teeing it up looking to make a deep run.
“A great representation of how deep our little state is. Proud to be part of a great group of guys and make my fifth appearance at the Amateur,” Leopold told GolfNewsRI following a practice round from the U.S. Amateur.
Leopold qualified for the U.S. Am by chipping in for birdie to win in a playoff at Connecticut National earlier this year.
“Playing the Amateur is the pinnacle of many players careers, especially a career amateur like myself. The older you get, the harder it becomes. I think the average is 21. Man, at 37 I feel old,” the three-time RI Amateur champ added.
Valois, a four-time RI Am champ, got in the field by winning the local qualifier earlier this summer.
“Happy to be out here at my age for sure,” said Valois.
Since qualifying for the Am, Valois has also qualified for the U.S. Mid-Am taking place next month at Erin Hills.
Another former RI Amateur champ, O’Leary, will be playing in the U.S. Am for the first time this week after qualifying in Maine.
“It’s been a dream of mine to play in a U.S. Amateur for as long as I can remember. This is going to be an incredible week and I can’t wait to embrace the pressure of teeing it up against the best amateurs in the world,” O’Leary told GolfNewsRI.
Meanwhile, Welch will look to go on a deep run before returning to Oklahoma for his final college season, and making a PGA Tour start in October.
Francoeur is in his last hurrah as an amateur, as he will turn pro and head to Korn Ferry Tour Q School in two weeks.
The Course
The first two rounds, the medal play rounds will be split between Ridgewood Country Club and Arcola Country Club.
The remainder of the tournament will be played at Ridgewood.
“Place is mint. Thickest, deepest rough I’ve ever seen. Not joking. Hopefully, they cut it by Monday,” said Valois.
Ridgewood will play at 7,600 yards and a par 71 for the U.S. Amateur, though with moving tee boxes, the number will likely change slightly.
“Plays all of it and no forgiveness on greens. They look to be quite the challenge. Beautiful property. Top notch place. Should be a great event,” added Valois.
The Course
The first two rounds, the medal play rounds will be split between Ridgewood Country Club and Arcola Country Club.
The remainder of the tournament will be played at Ridgewood.
“Place is mint. Thickest, deepest rough I’ve ever seen. Not joking. Hopefully, they cut it by Monday,” said Valois.
Ridgewood will play at 76,000 yards and a par 71 for the U.S. Amateur, though with moving tee boxes, the number will likely change slightly on a day-to-day basis.
“Plays all of it and no forgiveness on greens. They look to be quite the challenge. Beautiful property. Top notch place. Should be a great event,” added Valois.
The U.S. Am tees off at 7 a.m.
Golf Channel picks up coverage on Wednesday.