Bobby Leopold captured his fifth RI Amateur title in a thrilling 39-hole win over Mike Hamilton on Saturday at Warwick Country Club.
Leopold is the third player in RI Golf history to win five Amateur titles.
“It’s incredible, it really is. This week has been ‘next one up, next one up. I tried to play 18 mini matches, the problem was this one was 36. To do it back-to-back is really impressive,” said Leopold after the round.
Leopold has won back-to- state amateurs and three of the last four.
The 39-hole showdown is the longest Championship match in Rhode Island Golf history, topping 2016’s 38 hole final won by Davis Chatfield.
The Amateur win also sends Leopold to the U.S. Amateur in Minnesota later this summer.
More to come…
Extra Holes
The first hole at Warwick served as the first extra hole of the match.
Both Leopold and Hamilton were on the green in regulation and had opportunities to win it, but both left birdie putts short.
On the second playoff hole, Hamilton nearly chipped it in from the left side of the green but just came up short.
Leopold left his birdie putt short and we were on to a third hole.
On the third hole, both Leopold and Hamilton put their tee shots in the fairway.
Leopold put his second shot on the green while Hamilton put his second shot in the trees on the left side.
He chipped to just in front of the green and missed the par putt.
Leopold cozied his birdie putt up to the hole to seal the win.