Walthouse paces URI golf

University of Rhode Island junior Billy Walthouse was not a highly-rated golfer out of Longmeadow High School in Massachusetts, but now it would be difficult to make such an assumption.

He recently won his third individual tournament of the season this past Tuesday in the Rhode Island Invitational at Quidnessett Country Club. Not only was Walthouse the individual champion of the tournament with a score of  –5 par, but he helped lead his team to a share of second place, Rhode Island’s fifth finish of second or better on the season.

Walthouse was given an opportunity to play and improve the sport he loves at a Division-I college in the University of Rhode Island by head coach Gregg Burke.

“Junior year of high school is when I realized I had the ability to take golf to the next level and compete the way I have been since arriving at URI,” Walthouse said. “I wasn’t highly recruited, but Coach Burke was one of the only coaches to recruit me and I’m really grateful for that.”

The gratitude is reciprocal, as Burke is also grateful for being able to coach such a skilled and impactful player.

“His scores are a result of hard work, great attitude and attention to detail,” Burke said. “He is blessed with talent for sure, but it is the other thing that makes him great.”

Although he is having his best individual season at Rhode Island, Walthouse does not take for granted the moments that made him into the high-caliber collegiate golfer he is today. He recalls his first ever Atlantic 10 Conference tournament during his freshman year, as he now looks forward to his third A-10 tournament in Orlando, Florida.

“The A-10 tournament my freshman year, the golf course was tough even though I finished 12th or 14th which is pretty good for a freshman,” Walthouse said. “The experience of competing at that level at that age was big for my development with seeing how I stacked up against the competition. Following that tournament I saw the list of the “all conference teams” and made it a goal of mine to get my name on there.”

Walthouse accomplished such a feat when he made A-10 First Team last season, and his well on his way to another one this year. Walthouse is a testament of what hard work and a dedication to a craft is, with his consistency and level efficiency since arriving to URI nearly three years ago. Everyone has goals but not everyone is used to achieving their goals beyond imagination the way Walthouse has after winning a third individual victory.

“College golf is a tremendous grind, and to be achieving the success myself and my team have this year is simply a testament to our mental approach and consistent work ethic,” Walthouse said. ”Winning multiple events in one season has been a dream for me I didn’t think it would be possible, especially three. I’ll continue working hard and focusing on my game and we’ll see where the rest of the season takes us.”