Eagles Roll to 10th Challenge Cup Title

Top row from left to right: Eddie Hjerpe, Jeff Ray, Alex Fay, coach Jeffrey Dantas and Jake DiMario.
Bottom row from left to right: Jared Adams and Peter Costa Jr.
 

by AL MOTTAU

Entering the 2008 edition of the Challenge Cup Championship, individually, the Barrington Eagles were not playing their best golf. Annually, it has been status quo that Eagles fare well in early season Challenge Cup play. Such was not the case this season. Only one Eagle, Jared Adams, had advanced to match play at the Challenge Cup’s Junior Match Play Championship, while only one Eagle broke 80 at the Scott Robertson Qualifier. With the Eagles looking vunerable many forecasters believed it would be an exciting competitition. Think again. The Eagles rolled to a record breaking 58-stroke victory over their nearest competitor LaSalle Academy. With the victory, Barrington earned their 10th team title in the 25-year history of the event.

The Eagles were led by the duo of Jared Adams and Jeff Ray, who both posted 8-over par 151 titles in tying for second place, 1-stoke behind individual champion Brian Hughes.

“I am really proud of the team,” said first-year coach Jeff Dantas. “Every player on this team is capable of making a contribution. All six of them can shoot par or better. Coming into the tournament we hadn’t played our best golf, but I knew we would come together sooner or later. Obviously, it was sooner.”

While the Eagles were coasting to the team title, the individual competitions were hotly contested. In the Boys High School Division, Brian Hughes, of Fairfield Prep, reeled in first round leader Joseph D’Amato (73-80) and then held off Barrington’s dynamic duo. Hughes, who had opened with a 77 at Cranston C.C., closed with a near flawless 1-over par round of 73 at Alpine C.C. The victory was Hughes’ first Challenge Cup title.

“This is a big deal for me. This is the first Challenge Cup tournament I have won and only my second tournament overall. To win the Challenge Cup’s oldest tournament means a lot,” said Hughes.

Meanwhile, LaSalle freshman Juliet Vongphoumy edged reigning RIIL Girls champion Samantha Morrell by a mere stroke. The victory was the second over Morrell in the past two weeks. At the Junior Match Play Championship Vongphoumy beat Morrell in the semi-finals 3 & 2. “To have two female junior golfers of this caliber from Rhode Island is impressive. The last time we had such a strong one-two punch was when the Grzebien sisters were playing junior golf. The competition between Juliet and Samantha will only make them better players,” said Challenge Cup director Dave Adamonis Jr.

Not to be outdone, a week after a disappointing loss in the “Final 4” of the Junior Match Play Championship, Alex Grimes bested the field in the Middle School Division. Grimes was a model of consistency posting rounds of 78-80 for a 4-stroke victory over Norwich, Vermont’s Nick Celestino.

Tournament Tap-Ins — One of the most entertaining moments at this year’s championship occurred on Day 1. The St.Andrew’s School, which has been a regular participant in the Challenge Cup Championship the past ten years, had never made the cut for Day 2. After basketball star Russ Deremer posted his score (a 95) a wild celebration ensued. Deremer’s 95 meant St.Andrew’s would be playing on Day 2, much to the delight of their team (which was in school that week). On Day 2 St. Andrew’s showed they were not happy with just making the cut, as they moved from 9th to place to a tie for 4th.

Team Results
1.Barrington HS 310-304-614
2.LaSalle Academy 335-337-672
3.Bishop Hendricken 341-341-682
4.Saint Andrew’s School 375-357-732
4.Mount Saint Charles 376-356-732
6.Cranston West HS 371-364-735
Individual Results
1. Brian Hughes, Fairfield Prep (CT)
77-73-150
2. Jeff Ray, Barrington H.S. 78-73-151
2. Jared Adams, Barrington H.S.
77-74-151
4. Joseph D’Amato, Weston H.S. (CT)
73-80-153
4. Bernie D’Amato, Weston H.S. (CT)
77-76-153