PORTSMOUTH, RI — Drama unfolded on the final hole of the Rhode Island PGA Championship at The Aquidneck Club, culminating in a legendary finish and a historical milestone.
Ed Kirby added another unforgettable chapter to his legacy, capturing his third consecutive Rhode Island PGA Championship and his sixth title overall (’12, ’14, ’21, ’24, ’25, ’26). With the victory, Kirby moves into a tie with Jeff Martin for the second-most Chapter Championship titles in Rhode Island history, sitting just one win behind all-time leader Dana Quigley.
The victory, however, was anything but comfortable down the stretch. Kirby carded an opening 34 on the front nine and held a two-stroke lead over fellow host PGA Professional Matthew Hillier as he stepped onto the 18th tee. Kirby’s tee shot uncharacteristically sailed into the Atlantic Ocean, forcing him to re-tee under penalty. After playing his second ball onto the green in two shots, he stood over a nerve-wracking 30-foot putt for bogey to avoid a playoff. Kirby drained the clutch putt to shoot a 2-under par 69 and seal a dramatic one-stroke win over Hillier, who finished in solo second at 1-under par 70 (36-34).
Pete Weatherby of Brown University took solo third place with a 1-over par 72, while Dave Tiedemann (Shelter Harbor GC), Bob Tramonti (Triggs Memorial GC), and Brent Amaral (Acoaxet Club) finished in a three-way tie for fourth place at 3-over par 74.
The Rhode Island Chapter extends its sincere thanks to host PGA Professional Matt Hillier and the entire staff at The Aquidneck Club for their incredible hospitality and for presenting the course in immaculate championship condition. We would also like to express our gratitude to our partners—Branded Bills, Cobra Puma Golf, the PGA Tour, and Tournament Solutions—for their continued support, sponsorship, and dedication to our Chapter and its PGA Professionals.