From his first tournament at the age of five to his sixth individual win with the University of Rhode Island, fifth-year Bryson Richards has always had a love and passion for golf.
Richards, who is in the middle of his final season with URI, began playing golf with his father and grandfather, where he immediately fell in love with the sport.
“My entire family, I wouldn’t be here without them,” Richards said. “My dad and grandfather got me into the game, They taught me everything I need to know.”
Richards played in his first tournament at the age of five, traveling with his grandfather from his hometown of Plainfield, Vermont to Boston to compete in the Boston Local Tour every week.
Richards’ childhood was filled with success from that point on. In 2007, he finished seventh at the U.S. Kids Golf World Championship. He was also a six-time U.S. Kids Golf Boston Tour Player of the Year from 2007-12. In 2013, he finished 18th in the World Championship and 11th in the Inaugural Kids Club European Championship.
The following year at 13 years old, he tied the record as the youngest player to ever qualify for the Vermont Amateur. In 2015, he was the Vermont Junior Match Play Champion. In 2016, he was the Vermont Junior Stroke Play Champion and played his first high school match, where he shot a five-under. Richards also won two U.S. challenge cup events during this span.
While Richards’ success caught the attention of URI Head Coach Gregg Burke, Burke saw something more in Richards than his play on the course that made him believe he was a great fit for the team.
“I was going to try and recruit a number one player every two years,” Burke said. “I just saw personal characteristics in him that I thought would make him a number one player for us in two years.”
Although Richards found success early in his career at URI, winning his first career individual title in just his second tournament, Burke said that he faced a learning curve during his first year.
“He had things that were not helpful to him on the golf course with attitude or action when things weren’t going his way,” Burke said.
Richards also touched on his early struggles and how it helped him become a better golfer and teammate.
“I would let mental mistakes build early on in my freshman year and it would end up costing,” Richards said. “Learning that adjustment and making sure I’m comfortable out on the golf course was the biggest thing.”
Richards gives credit to Coach Burke for helping him grow through his mental struggles throughout his career.
“I owe almost 95% of my mental development while being here to Coach Burke,” Richards said. “He was tough on me when I first got here because I think he knew I could handle it, having those tough conversations and Coach Burke always keeping it pretty tough on me has been huge and I can’t thank him enough for that.”
Burke applauded Richards for his growth, noting how Richards has grown over the course of his Rhode Island career.
“I have not had one player in my 13 seasons that’s grown as much on the golf course as Bryson
Richards,” Burke said.
His performances back this up. Richards has won four individual titles over the past two seasons and six total during his five years while helping lift the URI golf team to top finishes in the latter half of his career.
“Although we don’t have records dating all the way back no one can identify anyone that’s had more than that,” Burke said.
His most recent win came last weekend at the Dragon Match play invitational. Richards shot one under par in the opening round, then lit up the course in the second round, shooting a 64 to go seven under par. This brought him to seven under par through the two rounds of play.
“He’s the ultimate competitor,” Burke said. “The past two years he’s the guy you can count on for a great score.”
Now that Richards’ journey on the URI golf team is coming to a close, he said he has plans to continue golfing once he graduates at an amateur level with the goal of competing in the U.S Amateur championship in August.
Before he can begin his journey into amateur and professional golf, the Atlantic-10 season is coming to a close. Richards and the rest of the URI golf team will be competing at the Rutherford Intercollegiate from April 13-14 at The University of Pennsylvania, before gearing up for the A-10 championship in Orlando, Florida from April 26-28.