Rhode Island
Here’s who made the cut for the Round of 16 at the 105th Rhode Island Junior Amateur
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.
More: Familiar names near top of leaderboard after Day 1 of Rhode Island Junior Amateur
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.
More: Have a Rhode Island golf bucket list? Here are the five courses Eric Rueb wants to play
“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
Authorities said two people were killed and eight more were injured in a mass shooting at Brown University, an Ivy League school in Rhode Island. Authorities said students were on campus for the second day of final exams.
Posted
A Rhode Island school superintendent has resigned amid an investigation into alleged antisemitic hazing in the district, NBC affiliate WJAR-TV reports.
Smithfield Superintendent Dr. Dawn Bartz announced her resignation in a letter addressed to the school community. Bartz has been on leave since November after a report of hazing at Smithfield High School.
The Jewish Alliance of Rhode Island said five high school football players locked a freshman student in a bathroom, sprayed Lysol at the student and yelled antisemitic slurs.
In her resignation letter, Bartz focused on her successes surrounding academic outcomes, special education and STEM opportunities and other positives for the district, and thanked the community.
“As Smithfield moves forward, I am confident the district will continue to build on this progress
and momentum. I wish all our students, staff, and families continued success in the years ahead,” she wrote.
The letter did not specify a reason for the resignation.
WJAR-TV first reported on the situation on October, when the Bartz released a statement on its investigation.
“The investigation confirmed inappropriate conduct among a small number of students,” Superintendent Dawn Bartz said in a provided statement. “Disciplinary action has been taken in accordance with district policy, and several student-athletes will not participate for the remainder of the season.”
The statement went on to say that there would be mandated training and education in response. However, the involved players were back at practice, which didn’t sit well with the victim’s family. His parents said his son walked into practice and found himself face-to-face with his alleged assailants.
Five football players were initially removed from the team for the remainder of the season but were later reinstated. When asked about the reversal in October, Bartz issued a one-sentence statement saying, “The disciplinary process has concluded and we will not be discussing details involving students.”
Smithfield Town Council President John Tassoni said the situation has deeply divided the community.
“It’s a long time coming,” Tassoni said of Bartz’s resignation. “A lot of people are angry about what happened. A lot of people don’t know the truth of what happened, nor do I.”
An investigation is underway by the school committee’s attorney and a report is expected to be delivered to the school committee sometime next year, Tassoni added. However, some people have concerns about transparency and have floated the possibility of hiring an independent investigator.
The Jewish Alliance of Greater Rhode Island said they want the focus to be on student safety.
“While we can’t speculate on the specific reasons behind the superintendent’s decision to resign, we remain focused on what matters most: that Smithfield schools become a place where Jewish students and all students feel safe, valued, and protected from bias and harassment,” President and CEO Adam Greenman wrote in an email.
Prosecutors in Rhode Island dropped a fugitive from justice charge against a former Catholic school athletic director.
John Sung was arrested in East Providence last month. He was wanted in Florida for a non-violent felony.
After his arrest, he was fired from his position at St. Mary Academy Bay View in Riverside.
Broward County court records show Sung was taken into custody last week. He posted bond.
Manhunt under way for attacker after two students killed at US university
Cities hit hardest by crime, poverty rank among America’s least relaxed, study finds
MS-13 gang leader accused in murder of ex-Honduran president’s son arrested in Nebraska
‘Must-see TV’: Texas Senate candidate challenges Jasmine Crockett to public debate
Louisiana father with ‘heart of gold’ dies after rifle accidentally discharges during hunting trip
Florida High School Football Rankings: Top 25 teams – Oct. 21
Cleary's 21 help Le Moyne down Central Connecticut State 69-64 in OT
How old is Bo Nix? What to know about Oregon quarterback ahead of 2024 NFL Draft
99th annual Pony Swim held in Virginia
Video: ‘It Didn’t Have to Happen This Way:’ U.Va. Faculty Call for Review of Police Response to Protests
Manhunt under way for attacker after two students killed at US university
Video: At Least Two Killed in Shooting at Brown University
FBI ousts reinstated whistleblower over unauthorized media talks, ‘poor judgment’
EU dismisses Russia’s lawsuit against Euroclear as ‘speculative’
Multiple people shot near Brown University, police say
-
Alaska1 week agoHowling Mat-Su winds leave thousands without power
-
Texas1 week agoTexas Tech football vs BYU live updates, start time, TV channel for Big 12 title
-
Ohio1 week agoWho do the Ohio State Buckeyes hire as the next offensive coordinator?
-
Washington5 days agoLIVE UPDATES: Mudslide, road closures across Western Washington
-
Iowa7 days agoMatt Campbell reportedly bringing longtime Iowa State staffer to Penn State as 1st hire
-
Miami, FL1 week agoUrban Meyer, Brady Quinn get in heated exchange during Alabama, Notre Dame, Miami CFP discussion
-
Cleveland, OH7 days agoMan shot, killed at downtown Cleveland nightclub: EMS
-
World6 days ago
Chiefs’ offensive line woes deepen as Wanya Morris exits with knee injury against Texans
