The University of Rhode Island golf team got it done at the University of Connecticut’s Invitational at GreatHorse in Hampden, Massachusetts, taking home first place.
After day one of the tournament, Rhode Island had a standout performer in fourth-year Tony Liu. He was able to put up a career-best score, shooting 4-under-par with a score of 68 through the first round.
“Tony is simply fulfilling the prophecy of what he can become when we recruited him,” URI head coach Gregg Burke said. “He’s kind of a rise from the ashes story, and he came to us here with a clear mind and a clear focus, and what he did today is no surprise to me; he is that good.”
Fourth-year Josiah Tong and first-year Jack Quinn were also standouts for the Rams during the first round, each shooting 2-over-par. Tong had a tremendous start with four birdies and an eagle, but ended the day with two bogeys and a double bogey in the final four holes.
Rhode Island finished the opening round in first place with a one-stroke lead. Providence College, Fairfield University and Bryant University trailed in a three-way tie for second.
On Monday, it was announced that the tournament would be reduced to a 36-hole tournament due to weather conditions at GreatHorse.
Play resumed Tuesday morning as the Rams teed off at 10:10 a.m. Rhode Island was paired with its in-state rivals, Bryant and Providence, looking to defend its lead.
“I know a lot of teams went to indoor hitting facilities; I personally did not do that,” Burke said. “I know how hard we work to be where we are right now, and even though we lost our top three players from last year, we recruit champions, and that’s what we were today.”
On the final day of the tournament, Rhode Island continued its dominance, shooting 4-under-par as a team. Liu continued to dominate for the Rams, shooting another impressive score of 3-under-par on his second outing, bringing his total for the tournament to 7-under-par. Liu was accompanied by Jack Quinn, shooting 4-under-par, tying for the second-best score on the day.
“We had three players on our team today that played in a combined one college golf tournament,” Burke said. “We were the most depleted team in the field compared to what we were, but we still won, because these guys have paid the price to win.”
Liu had the best score of the tournament by a five-shot margin. Jack Quinn led a three-way tie for the second-best score alongside Providence second-year Callan Fahey and Boston College first-year Kieran Low.
Liu has spent his entire collegiate career with Rhode Island. This tournament was his first win in his college career.
This is Rhode Island’s first top finish of the season, and the program’s first tournament win since the Wykagyl Intercollegiate last fall
