PAWTUCKET — It didn’t take long for a surprise on Tuesday morning at the 105th Rhode Island Junior Amateur. 

Nick Emery took an early lead, absorbed a charge from Quinn Dumas and made a routine par at the 18th hole. That was enough to eliminate the top seed in the boys field, as the Round of 16 started in dramatic fashion. 

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Emery’s victory on his home course, 1 up, set the tone for an intriguing few hours of play. The former All-State pick from St. Raphael won the first three holes on his home course and survived after Dumas pulled even in the match at the par-4 17th. 

“I know everywhere to put the ball — everywhere to go,” Emery said in an interview with the Rhode Island Golf Association. “To be able to put the ball where I need to on this course, especially because I know it really well, it just helps.” 

Emery lost his way off the tee on the back side but found a fairway when he needed it most, clearing the hill with his drive at the signature closing hole. He had a simple wedge in from 75 yards and left himself a short birdie putt. Dumas couldn’t manage a par that would have forced the match to extra holes. 

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“I was really nervous over the ball,” Emery said. “Just kind of backed it off, got back over it and put it to eight feet.” 

Emery will face Jesse Hellring, whose match with Joey Iaciofano also went the distance. It was a high-quality affair — Hellring shot 1-under 68 over 18 holes, and his 1-up win featured deciding birdies at the par-4 16th and par-4 17th. Hellring finished with par at the 18th to hold off Iaciofano, who carded an even-par 69. 

“Keep the ball in the fairway,” Emery said. “Don’t do anything dumb around the greens. That’s obviously it.” 

Three-time defending champion Max Jackson, reigning Interscholastic League champion Rocco Capalbo, Drew MacLeod and Ian Dunham — four players who finished a shot behind Dumas in Monday’s stroke-play qualifier — all advanced rather comfortably. Capalbo strolled to an 8 and 7 victory while Jackson closed out former La Salle Academy teammate Sam Perry, 4 and 3. Brayden Dickinson and Eli Hamelsky will meet in a quarterfinal featuring two double-digit seeds after upsetting Sam Fuentes and Charles Melvin, respectively. 

Girls quarterfinals on Wednesday will mark a return for medalist Olivia Williams, Adriana Eaton, Emma Lockhart, Lily Dessel and Claire McTaggart. All five received byes through to the Round of 16. Ava Andoscia used a par at the 18th to edge Brooke Barner, 1 up, in that field’s tightest match of the opening afternoon. Andoscia had the final answer in a meeting that saw just four holes halved. 

“I was so nervous,” Andoscia said. “But I actually switched up what I was going to do for my second shot on (18), and I think that’s where I won.” 

Boys first division and boys 14U division top seeds Connor Ahlborg and Mitch McTaggart will both play in Wednesday’s quarterfinals. Ahlborg held off Sam Iden in 19 holes, making a birdie while playing the par-4 first for the second time. McTaggart received a bye after tying Raj Mammen for medalist honors on Monday with a 9-over 78. 

Round of 16 results 

Boys championship 

Nick Emery def. Quinn Dumas, 1 up; Jesse Hellring def. Joey Iaciofano, 1 up; Drew MacLeod def. Andrew Lavoie, 2 and 1; Rocco Capalbo def. Michael Zeller, 8 and 7; Brayden Dickinson def. Sam Fuentes, 2 and 1; Eli Hamelsky def. Charles Melvin, 3 and 2; Max Jackson def. Sam Perry, 4 and 3; Ian Dunham def. Will Owens, 3 and 2. 

Girls championship 

Olivia Williams, bye; Elizabeth Kue def. Ella Rosa, 4 and 2; Adriana Eaton, bye; Emma Lockhart, bye; Lily Dessel, bye; Ava Andoscia def. Brooke Barner, 1 up; Claire McTaggart, bye; Julia Nault def. Maggie McDonald, 2 and 1. 

Boys first division 

Connor Ahlborg def. Sam Iden, 19 holes; Rich Cavanagh def. Mackinley Garcia, 4 and 3; Luke Cavanaugh def. Michael Letendre, 1 up; Noah Patel def. Nathan Carter, 5 and 4; Nick Adamonis def. Sawyer VonFlatern, 5 and 4; Conner Rabbitt def. Gregory Fitta, 1 up; Zachary Taraian def. Adam Gorman, 4 and 3; Julien Kocatas def. Alex Ji, default. 

Boys 14 and under 

Mitch McTaggart, bye; Nick Keefe def. Weylin Lynch, 7 and 6; Ray Rainville, bye; Aidan Connell def. Camden Fontaine, 8 and 7; Raj Mammen, bye; Logan Ferreira def. Huck Quinlan, 3 and 2; Kailer Louangxay, bye; Nico Capalbo def. Mikey Mendes, 7 and 6. 

bkoch@providencejournal.com

On X: @BillKoch25