You have the wonderful opportunity to see some of the best future PGA Tour stars up close and personal at Wannamoisett C.C. in East Providence R.I. from June 18-21 at the 63rd Northeast Amateur Championship. There is no charge for the event and you can follow any players that you wish.
Last year’s tournament was won by Anthony Delisanti from Sanborn, New York, a student at Valparaiso, in a five-hole sudden-death playoff conducted on the third hole over Bryan Lee of the University of Virginia. Both players are back this year in the field of 93 players. The event is so much fun to watch, and the ability to walk alongside them is a special treat. You will be seeing many of the players that you will be watching on television for the next thirty years.
Many of the greats on the PGA Tour have played in this amateur event that this year is rated one of the best men’s amateur golf events in the United States. Ben Crenshaw, Luke Donald, John Cook, Bryson DeChambeau, Collin Morikawa and even Tiger Woods have played in this venerable event.
Local golfer and current PGA member Peter Uihlein won this event in 2012 in record-breaking fashion. Sam Burns, who has had great success the last month on the PGA, played in this event three times before turning professional. Scottie Scheffler played here three times and never won.
One of the best interviews I ever did was with a 16-year-old from Kentucky at the Northeast Am many years ago. Some of the players (all amateurs are not making any money) stay with families who are members of Wannamoisett C.C. This young man was very articulate, fun to talk to, and when you watched him play, you knew he was going to be very good. His name was Justin Thomas. Yes, that Justin Thomas who was staying with a local family, and he still keeps in touch with them.
Ben Tuthill, former R.I. Amateur champ and chairman of the event for quite a few years introduced Wannamoisett member Mick Hogan as his Co-Chairman this year at a recent press conference. Both spoke about the field for 2025, “We have a great field lined up. We have many of the top amateurs in the country. Both Dellisanti and Lee are returning along with some of the top amateurs in the country including Luke Colton who is still a junior, Stewart Hagestad, a mid-amateur who has played in the Masters. A total of 93 players have signed up for the event,” said Tuthill.
Rhode Islander in the field is Bobby Leopold, a member of Wannamoisett, Connecticut has mid-amateurs, Cody Paladino and Brad Tilley and junior Ben James.
“We have 93 players to date,” said Tuthill who said that the usual field is 92. “We invite spectators to come and watch many of the golfers who you will see on television, and you will be impressed by the quality of golf on our demanding, Par 69 golf course that was designed by Donald Ross.” You will be glad that you went, and you will have memories that will last a long time. And it is FREE!