GolfNewsRI’s Men’s Players to Watch in 2025
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 2025.
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 2025 season.
And not necessarily the star players.
So without further ado, here are GolfNewsRI’s Men’s Players to Watch in 2025:
Austin Cilley: The former basketball star turned golfer will be looking to add more trophies to his collection in 2025.
After numerous close calls, Austin Cilley earned his first state-wide win last season at the Burke Memorial Championship.
He edged Jon Pannone in a two hole playoff to take home the trophy.
“I’ve been knocking on the door for awhile now. This is my eighth year playing in the RIGA, I’ve had second a couple of times, lost in a playoff in the Mid-Am…It means the world to overcome it and finally get over the hump,” said Cilley afterward.
The men’s division of the Rhode Island golf scene is as competitive as it has ever been, with so much talent. Austin’s story shows how hard it is to win out there.
Perhaps this victory in the Burke Memorial is what he needed to break the glass ceiling and add more golf trophies next to the basketball ones.
Watch out for Austin Cilley.
Joey Iaciofano: Joey Iaciofano made the match play cut in last summer’s Rhode Island Amateur, won a match, then did the same in the Junior-Amateur.
Then he went back to school down in Florida and has since lit up the competition.
Iaciofano led Oxbridge Academy to a Florida High School State Championship over Charlie Woods and the Benjamin School, and was named Palm Beach Post’s Golfer of the Year.
His run didn’t stop there.
Iaciofano finished 11th at the Doral Jr. Classic and qualified for the Junior Orange Bowl Championship where he currently resides inside the top 20.
Earlier in 2024, he won an AJGA event and has since earned a number of other high finishes.
If 2024 is any indication, 2025 could be a big year for Iaciofano, both locally and in Florida.
Honorable Mentions
URI Golf Team: The URI golf team begins their spring season in just a few weeks.
Rhody won four tournaments in the fall season and are playing a competitive spring scheduled ahead of the A-10 Tournament in a few months.
The Rams are loaded with talent from Aidan O’Donovan to Tyler Bruneau and Luke Stennett and a slew of players in between.
URI should be challenging for an A-10 title.
The state already has one golf team in the NCAA Tournament in Roger Williams, can we make it two?