Two Rhode Island Interscholastic League golf champions got off to the start they were looking for as they try and add the 2025 Rhode Island Golf Association Junior State Amateur title to their resume.
Rocco Capalbo, who won the 2024 high school state championship playing for Prout, was as steady as it gets during Monday’s qualifying round at Pawtucket Country Club, shooting a 2-under 67 to earn medalist honors.
On the girls side, two-time high school state champ and two-time RI Junior Am champ Olivia Williams got her tournament off to a great start, shooting a 1-over 74. That put her in a tie with Claire McTaggart – a two-time First Team All-Stater at Barrington – for first, with Williams picking up the No. 1 seed for the match play portion of the tournament.
Capalbo’s round started with three straight pars, then sandwiched three more between a pair of birdies on Nos. 4 and 8. A bogey on No. 9 had Capalbo 1-under through the front and his back featured eight pars and one birdie on the short par-4 11th hole.
Right behind Capablo is former Barrington High School Second Team All-Stater A.J. Colonna, who shot a 1-under 68. Colonna attends high school in Florida and recently verbally committed to play for Villanova after he graduates next spring.
Match play begins Tuesday and Capalbo will play Joey Iaciofano – a high school teammate of Colonna’s – in the first round.
It took Williams some time to find a groove. She birdied the second hole, but had three bogeys before the front was finished and had another on the par-4 10th hole. Williams got two strokes back with back-to-back birdies and entered the clubhouse first on the leaderboard.
McTaggart started with a bigger bang, making an eagle on the second hole. Two bogeys had her even through the front and a birdie on the 12th hole had her sitting in first. McTaggart had two bogeys on the final four holes and will be the No. 2 seed for the match play portion of the tournament. With 15 girls in the competition, Williams earned a bye.
Match play begins Tuesday morning and is scheduled to wrap up Friday with the championship matches.
RIGA Junior Amateur – Boys Championship First Round
7:30 a.m. – No. 1 Rocco Capalbo vs. No. 16 Joey Iaciofano; No. 8 Nathan Jackson vs. No. 9 Eli Hamelsky.
7:42 a.m. – No. 4 Gordon Shi vs. No. 13 Jack Marques; No. 5 Noah Matel vs. No. 12 Rolan Gibson.
7:54 a.m. – No. 2 A.J. Colonna vs. No. 15 Quinn Dumas; No. 7 Raj Mammen vs. No. 10 Nick Adamonis.
8:06 a.m. – No. 3 Devon Havens vs. No. 14 Parker Kroll; No. 6 Aidan Connell vs. No. 11 Zachary Taraian.
RIGA Junior Amateur – Girls Championship First Round
8:18 a.m. – No. 8 Elizabeth Kue vs. No. 9 Ava Andoscia.
8:30 a.m. – No. 4 Emma Lockhart vs. No. 13 Ashley O’Grady; No. 5 Hanley Correia vs. No. 12 Makenna Moylan.
8:42 a.m. – No. 2 Claire McTaggart vs No. 15 Brynn Medina; No. 7 Julia Nault vs. No. 10 Maggie McDonald.
8:54 a.m. – No. 3 Lily Dessel vs. No. 14 Samantha Iacobucci; No. 6 Kamryn Kue vs. No. 11 Audrey DiCarlo.
RIGA Junior Amateur – Boys 14 & Under First Round
9:54 a.m. – No. 8 Tyler Hardy vs. No. 9 Ben Fenster
10:06 a.m. – No. 4 Logan Ferreira vs. No. 13 Mikey Mendes; No. 5 Camden Fontaine vs. No. 12 Luke Longfield.
10:18 a.m. – No. 2 Ray Rainville vs. No. 15 Williams Warner; No. 7 Waylin Lynch vs. No. 10 Cooper Cielo.
10:30 a.m. – No. 3 Kailer Louangxay vs. No. 13 Huckleberry Quinlan; No. 6 Charlie Salem vs. No. 11 Nick Keefe.
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