PORTSMOUTH, RI-Welcoming in the legends of the Fall on what started out to be a beautiful sunny day for 36 holes of Championship golf to crown the 2018 Rhode Island PGA Chapter Champion. Carnegie Abbey by the water provided the good ol’ bait and switch with the weather quickly changing to a breezy and cloudy afternoon. Quickly navigating around the golf course to try and stay ahead of the evolving tough conditions. The winds pushed the players in after Round 1 and we have Brendon Ray, PGA and Matt Doyle, PGA tied at 1-under 70. Alone in third, shooting a 2-over 73 Thomas Mally, PGA, Brian Owens, PGA and John Rainone, PGA in the hunt at 4-over 75, and rounding the top 6 spots is Shane Drury, PGA with a 6-over 77.
Staying tuned as the field has returned to the golf course for Round 2 amidst looming talk about potential rain. As the day progressed and groups started to finish up their final test of 18 holes in which would lead to a fantastic finish. With a couple groups in, the clubhouse leader is Brendan Ray, PGA bettering his Round 1 score by shooting a Round 2 score of 2-under 69. The score lived for a good while as the rest of the groups seemed to be a tad bit off the blistering pace set by the earlier groups. A couple of players succumbed to what the golf course presented; except for one player. That one player was Mat Doyle, PGA who came in relaxed and seemed like he was just simply operating on all cylinders, fired a 4-under 67 in Round 2 to hoist the crown as the 2018 Rhode Island PGA Chapter Champion! Congrats Matt Doyle, PGA, you are the RI PGA Chapter Champion!
Congratulations to all the players in the field that participated to make the Chapter Championship competitive, thank you to Carnegie Abbey , the Host Professional Ed Kirby, PGA , the supremely helpful staff, and last but not least the sponsors and partners that collaborate to make this all possible – thank you PGA Tour, Avidia Bank, MBC Marketing – Lincoln.