PROVIDENCE, RI (September 14, 2016) -- At age 71,
Paul Quigley is still finding new ways to win golf
tournaments.
As it is, Quigley has won more events than anyone
in the RIGA’s 114-year history, so many that he has lost
count. He was not even sure, until someone told him,
how many times he has won the Senior Amateur.
After what he did Wednesday at Triggs, the count is
now up to seven in that event alone. Quigley added his
latest crown by coming from behind and firing an even-
par 72 for a 36-hole total of 2-over 146. That was one
shot better than 2011 champion Tom Acciardo and
three ahead of Eric Ahlborg and Dean Parziale. Ahlborg
had the lowest round of the tournament, a 68 that
included six birdies, while Parziale had a 75 for their
149 totals.
The day was a wild one in several ways. Not one,
but two RIGA presidents, current president Vin
Cavallaro and former president Steve Sampson, earned
hardware by capturing their division net titles. It also
was a day in which the players won a race with the
weather.
A beautiful day became heavily overcast late in the
afternoon as the final groups were finishing. At one
point with the last several groups still on the course,
lightning was spotted in the distance and light rain
began to fall. However, association officials were
monitoring radar weather reports throughout and
allowed play to continue because radar indicated the
storm would stay south of the course, which it did.
By tournament’s end, Quigley had become the
story as he has so often in the past 40 years. Because
of the way he won, he was far more excited than he
usually is even after a victory. Never before has he
spent time talking about an eagle, and a near-eagle, as
they keys to his victory.
He has won with precision, not power, through his
career. At 5-feet-6 and 140 pounds at 71-years-old, he
does not have the power of many in the field. But Triggs
has two relatively short par-5s on the back and they
turned the tide in his favor.
"I almost had two eagles," he said excitedly. "On
13 (442 yards uphill) I had a 12-footer. A tough putt
downhill." He missed it and settled for bird.
Two holes later, at the 495-yard 15th, he not only
got home in two, his second shot came to rest only
three feet from the hole. He got his eagle there. He
spoke about how his work will give him great glee with
his family.
"When we talk about par-5s, my brother (Dana, the
long time Champions Tour star) and my son (Brett, the
former PGA Tour regular) don’t even want to hear me.
They tell me, "You can’t reach any par 5,” Quigley
related. "I don’t know if I’m even going to tell them
what I did." The work on the par 5s helped Quigley play
the last 11 holes in 2-under-par.
As it was, he trailed Acciardo, the first-day co-
leader, much of the way. Acciardo went out in 35 and
had the lead most of the day. But he drove into trouble
on the par-4 16th and suffered a double bogey to fall
behind by one. When he parred both 17 and 18 he
came up one shot short of Quigley the eagle maker.
Quigley had become the oldest player to advance
through qualifying for next week’s USGA Senior
Amateur Championship in St. Louis, but he has decided
to stay home and compete instead in the New England
Seniors. That event will be held at Crestwood, the
course where his brother was the head pro before
joining the Champions Tour.
Beyond Quigley’s work, the day featured a double
rarity in having current or former RIGA presidents win
titles. Current president Dr. Cavallaro recorded a net 68
(77 with a nine handicap) to finish at 2-under142 and
win the net title in the Legends Division for players aged
68 and older. Former president Steve Sampson had a
net 72 (80 with an eight handicap) and edged Karl
Augenstein by one stroke, 140-141, for the net title in
the Super Seniors (for those aged 62-67).
Steven Heath of Jamestown won the overall net
title at 70-69_ 139. Acciardo took the Super Seniors
gross with his 147 and Quigley the Legends gross where
still another former RIGA president, Peter McBride, was
second at 156.
View results for Rhode Island Senior
ABOUT THE Rhode Island Senior
36-hole stroke play championship for seniors, super
seniors and legends. Eligibility: Age 55 & over.
Gross &
Net Divisions. Member of RIGA member club.
View Complete Tournament Information