Mike Calef, Jake Bauer to Meet in State Amateur Title Match
Mike Calef and Jake Bauer will square off in the Rhode Island State Amateur Championship matchup on Friday morning at Rhode Island Country Club.
Calef advanced to the final after a 2&1 win over Roger Williams star Ryan Dacey, while Bauer advanced after a 4&3 victory over Ryan Porter.
“I’m over the moon. It just happened, so I haven’t really thought much about it yet, but I’m extremely excited,” said Calef after the semifinal match.
For Bauer, this was his first Rhode Island Amateur since he won it in 2018.
“I was bouncing back and forth between Boston and Rhode Island. My fiancé’s family lives down here so we moved to Franklin, so it was sort of a quick way for me to get down here, only 40 minutes. I have felt really welcomed, and I am really excited to get things going tomorrow,” said Bauer after his semifinal match.
The first 18 of the final match gets underway at 7:30 a.m. on Friday morning at RICC.
“I’ve done it before. I just have to tell myself that it is a sprint and not a marathon. I think I was a couple down in the first 18 when I won it in 2018, and I caught fire on that second 18. But, yea I’m really excited,” added Bauer.
Calef will be experiencing the final match for the first time in his career.
“I’m not sure (what it will take), good golf probably. The golf course is hard, there are some holes where par is good and you kind of have to play your way around,” said the Wanumetonomy member.
Friday’s champion will get an automatic bid into the U.S. Amateur.
Calef Advances
In the semifinal match, Calef found himself two-down to Ryan Dacey after nine holes.
However, on the back nine, he won four of the first five holes to take a two-up lead of his own through 15 holes.
“My game is rounding into shape. I work pretty hard at it over the winter. This week it has been all about my caddy. Bob is a member at my club and is one of the best green readers I have ever met, so at this specific golf course he has been invaluable to me,” said Calef.
He adds that he is unsure of his caddy situation for Friday as Bob’s son is getting married later in the day.
Could be something to watch for.
Back to the semifinal match, Dacey won the 16th hole to cut into the deficit, but Calef won 17 to close it out.
Bauer Back to Final
In the second semifinal match, Ryan Porter got off to a fast start, going three-up through the first five holes.
He rallied with wins on the sixth and seventh holes, before Porter won the eight and Bauer returned the favor at the ninth.
“Honestly, I was really battling some swing demons today and I had to stay patient with myself. Sort of know this is my miss for the day and work my way around the course,” said Bauer.
On the back side, Bauer caught fire.
He won five straight holes to take a four-up lead and close the match out on 15.