“Mike played great and it was a really good match. This was by far the hardest. Mike’s like playing myself, but he hits it a little further than I do and there are times where I (think) if I was a little taller I could hit it as far as he does,” Leopold said with a laugh. “I don’t think I’ve come up against such a tough opponent. Mike threw everything he had at me. It was just a hell of a day.” 

Leopold’s victory also earns him a significant exemption for the first time. The winner now earns an exemption to the U.S. Amateur Championship, which will be played Aug. 12-18 at Hazeltine National Golf Club in Chaska, Minn. This is the fifth time he has qualified for the U.S. Amateur. 

“The U.S. Amateur is the pinnacle of what you play for every year and it’s the best tournament there is going for amateur golf, so to me it’s really exciting,” Leopold said. “That’s the hardest golf tournament to qualify for. It’s way easier to win a 36-hole match play final than it is to get in through stroke play.” 

It was also special for Leopold, who coaches at Bishop Hendricken, to have one of his players, Gianni Fontenault, on the bag this week. He recently graduated and knows this course well since the Hawks call Warwick Country Club home during their season. 

“He had some great reads out there and without him I don’t think I would’ve been able to get as far as I did, so I’ve got to give him a lot of credit for a lot of good reads, even though he showed up a little late this morning,” Leopold said with a laugh. 

Mother Nature was kind for the majority of the week, but she wreaked havoc on Narragansett Bay Saturday. Play was suspended twice during the final round, first at 9:15 a.m. and resumed at 11:15 with the players on the 11th green. Leopold quickly birdied to increase his lead to 2-up. They were able to play another five holes before play was suspended at 12:50 p.m. The players were able to grab lunch and dry off before play resumed again at 3:10 p.m.

“The course played completely different,” explained Leopold. “Balls started spinning off greens, and greens were substantially slower. I didn’t have my speed for pretty much the whole day after we had the first stop. When you lose your speed it’s hard because you’re fighting it the whole time.” 

Hamilton, who was also the runner-up in 2022, knew it was going to be another mental and physical grind. He played outstanding and kept the pressure on Leopold for the entire match. In fact, Leopold was 3-up through 24 holes, but Hamilton stormed back to even the match through 31 holes. 

“Today, I actually never got nervous. I really felt locked in and then (on the 39thhole) I just made a bad swing and it was a physical mistake. You learn something new, unfortunately, with these every time and I’ve learned the lesson twice by losing.” 

On the 39th hole, which was No. 3 at Warwick Country Club, both hit irons off the tee and landed in the middle of the fairway. While Leopold hit his second shot onto the green, Hamilton clipped a tree on the left side and had a challenging third shot. He recovered well, but Leopold needed only a two putt to claim victory. 

Despite the weather, there was a strong gallery following the historic match. Family and friends for both players walked the iconic Donald Ross-designed course the entire day, while members of Warwick Country Club joined as the match progressed. After 36 holes were completed and the match required a sudden-death playoff, Leopold was joined by his three children as he walked up the fairway on the first playoff hole. He admitted it calmed his nerves and helped him grind through. 

“Everything comes into perspective,” he said. “We always say that if life is good, golf is good, and I feel the two go together really well. I’ve got a great wife. I’ve got three great kids. They support me whatever I do and without all their personalities and support there’s nothing to play for, you’re playing for yourself. It’s way better to play when your wife and kids love you and I love them.”