Rhode Island Golf
Paul Quigley Wins Fifth Senior Amateur

By BOB DICK

Although Metacomet's Rhode Island Golf Association (RIGA) Hall of Famer Paul Quigley has now won the Senior State Amateur Championship five times, he still hasn't caught up with Wanumetonomy's John Oliver who won this event seven times back in the 1970s and 80s.

But you know at the tender age of 64 (he'll be 65 in April)this Rhode Island golfer Quigley more than likely will catch Oliver in the coming years and may even pass him. He's playing that well among his senior peers.

"He's in terrific shape for his age and is playing so well," remarked long time rival Dr. George Pirie as he watched Quigley notch title number five when he defeated New England Country Club's Jon Fasick on the third sudden death playoff hole at Triggs Memorial Rhode Island Golf Course in Providence.

Quigley ended matters with a par on the par-5, 10th while Fasick, after chunking his second shot from the right rough, bogeyed the hole. "I played steady throughout the tournament (70, 70) and I made some putts,"said Quigley afterward. "I hit the ball well. I hit 17 greens in regulation the first day and 15 in the second round."

Quigley, who trailed Fasick by three shots after 27 holes, made up those shots on the back nine of the second round when he birdied the 17th with a 15-foot putt. Quigley and Fasick ended the 36 holes of regulation play all even at 4-under 140.

Pirie was in the hunt also but could never make a run and finished third at even par 144. Herb Stevens (Potowomut), Gary McLane (RICC) and defending champ George Donnell (Quidnessett) tied for fourth at 146. Next came Metacomet's Mike Soucy at 148.

Quigley also successfully defended his Super Seniors (ages 62-67) title with his 140 total. Wannamoisett's Jim Baxter won the Legends Division (ages 68 and above) with a 158.

Maybe someday Quigley will run the table and win all three divisions in this senior event. "What's that, 68 you have to be in the Legends? Whoa, just stay healthy," he said.

But the 51st senior championship belonged to Quigley and Fasick, who, by the way, went five extra holes at the Senior Four-Ball Championship this summer at Potowomut. Fasick and Donnell edged out Quigley and Soucy for that title.

Fasick made a big run at the senior crown in the first round at the tough Triggs layout when he fired a 5-under 67 that gave him a three shot edge over Quigley and four ahead of Pirie heading into the second round.

That threesome played in the final group on the second day and each shot an even par 35 on the front nine. Then Quigley, playing with a putter borrowed from Soucy, started to get a better feel with it and birdied the 11th and 13th to get within one of Fasick. A bogey by Fasick on 14 evened things up but he regained the lead with a birdie on 15.

Next came the par 4, 319-yard 16th. A pivotal hole both agreed. "Paul hit one of his rare bad shots into the bunker," said Fasick. "He then blasted out to within 12 feet and made a par. If he doesn't make that putt, I'm up two with two holes to play."

This Rhode Island golf player, Quigley then birdied 17 to tie for the lead. Both parred the 18th. "I made that nice birdie on 17 and I thought I made another on 18 but the ball just missed," said Quigley. "I had started to get the feel with the putter and I made putts when I had to. I think I just trusted the putter better. I didn't have a three-putt all day in the second round, so I have to give Soucy an assist because of his putter."

Fasick and Quigley parred the first two playoff holes but Quigley saved himself on the first hole (10) when he came up with a brilliant chip shot from off the edge in back of the green. The ball nearly rolled in for a birdie, stopping six inches short of the cup

"That was tough because it was against the grain. I had to hit kind of a flop shot and it nearly went in," Quigley said.

When the twosome returned to the 10th for the second time, Fasick drove his tee shot into the right rough, landing on some hard pan. He tried an eight iron to get around some trees and be in the clear at the bottom of a hill. Instead, he miss-hit it. "It wasn't a tough shot. I just hit it fat. It was terrible," Fasick said.

Quigley, meanwhile, playing from the left rough with a slightly downhill lie drove his second shot to the edge of the green. He was there in two.

"I just killed a three-iron rescue out of that rough. It flew the bunker and rolled to the edge of the green," Quigley said.

Fasick, eventually got on the green in 4 but needed to make a tough 10-footer for a par. He missed. After that, it was all academic for Quigley.

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