Joe Hassett (R) in action for Providence College
(Providence College Athletics Photo)
PROVIDENCE, RI (September 13, 2016) -- For a
basketball player, Joe Hassett has become a very
good
golfer.
The former Providence College star and NBA
champion had his best day yet in RIGA competition
on
Tuesday, firing a 1-over 73 at Triggs to tie for the
lead
in the 58th Senior Amateur Championship. Tom
Acciardo, the 2011 champion, and frequent
contender
Dave McNally also had 73s to earn a share of the top
spot.
Paul Quigley, who has won this event six times
among his many RIGA titles, Metacomet’s Dean
Parziale, RICC’s Dave Patrick and Wannamoisett’s
Donald Gallagher had 74s to be just one off the lead
heading into Wednesday’s second and final round.
With so many long time contenders near the
top,
Hassett will not be favored to win since he is the new
guy on the block in this competition. But after one of
Rhode Island’s great basketball careers at La Salle
Academy, Providence College and the NBA, including
in
Seattle where he helped the Sonics win the
championship in 1979, Hassett will be accustomed to
being in the championship chase, even if it is a
different
sport.
Hassett sounded like a typical golfer when he
finished his round Tuesday, lamenting the fact that
his
score was not lower.
"I missed a three-footer on one, a three-footer
on
two and a three-footer on four," he said with a shake
of
his head. "They were all for pars." He also bogeyed
the
par-5 10th, so he was 4-over as he stood on the
13th
tee. It turned into a lot of fun from there as his
sweet
shooting SONAR got turned on, this time on the
greens.
"I made four birdies in a row,’’ he said. They
came
on 13, 14, 15 and 16.
"The last one was the best,’’ said Don Wright,
the
defending tournament champion who was one of his
playing partners. "That one was a double three-
pointer.
It had to be about 50 feet."
That got Hassett back to even, which is where
he
stayed until he 18.
"I made bogey from 125 yards," he related.
"Left it
short and three-putted."
Acciardo, who already has won the Senior Four-
Ball
this year with partner George Pirie, also was
disappointed with his finish. He had four birds and
was
1-under going to the par-4 17th.
"I pulled my drive left and had to take an
unplayable," he said. "I made double."
McNally had the steadiest round of the leaders.
His
73 included three bogeys and two birdies.
"It was there for the taking," he said, referring
to
the beautiful day, the excellent course conditions and
the relatively mild course set-up provided by RIGA
officials.
"I had a lot of six-inch putts for pars. I had my
chances to make more (birdies). But I didn’t make a
putt over six feet all day."
Quigley did not shoot his age as he has done
several times already in competition this summer.
But
the 71-year-old put himself in good position by going
1-
under over his last 11 holes after a slow start.
Quigley
also reported that he has withdrawn from next
week’s
USGA Senior Amateur, to be held in St. Louis.
He was slated to be the second oldest player to
take part in that event. The only one older is 73-
year-
old Vinny Giles. Giles, however, did not qualify as
Quigley did. Giles has an exemption as a past
champion
(2007).
"It’s being held at the same time as the New
England Seniors,’’ Quigley noted. "The New Englands
are so easy to get to (They are being played at
Crestwood, the course where his brother, Dana, was
the
pro for so long). With the nationals, it’s a hassle
getting
out there. It’s not like I’ve never played before. It’s
the
fourth time I’ve qualified, so I decided to stay
home."
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.
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