By Dalton Balthaser

 

BARRINGTON – For someone looking to win his first RIGA event, Tim Murray’s final round on Wednesday got off to an inauspicious start.

 

He bogeyed Nos. 1 (par 4, 379 yards) and 2 (par 4, 377 yards) to fall out of sole possession of the lead.

 

He gathered himself quickly with a par on No. 3 (par 4, 348 yards).

 

“I knew if I could make a par on No. 3, I felt that would help me regain my momentum,” said Murray. “But for me the birdie at No. 4 (par 4, 351 yards) was the key to getting back on track.”

 

He rolled in a 10-footer after hitting a crisp pitching wedge from 125 yards.

 

From there, he never looked back.

 

Murray, aided by a splendid short game and a championship stretch of golf, is the 64th Rhode Island Senior Amateur Champion.

 

His two-day total of 1 under at Rhode Island Country Club (par 71, 6,393 yards) was good for a three-shot victory over Mike Arter of Button Hole Golf Club.

 

He was the only player to shoot par or better both days. He shot 70 in Round One and backed it up with a round of 71.

 

“It means everything,” said Murray, 56, of Scotland, Conn. “This is by far the biggest win that I’ve ever had. Bar none. It means the world that I was able to get the job done. After bogeying the first two holes, I didn’t think I had a shot to win.”

 

After playing the first five holes in 2 over, Murray stayed tough and played the final 13 holes in 2 under.

 

“My short game bailed me out a lot today,” said Murray. “I didn’t hit a lot of greens, but my putter kept me in it. I hit some good drives but without my short game I wouldn’t have won.”

 

A two-putt birdie on No. 8 (par 5, 489 yards) got the ball rolling on that championship stretch.

 

He seized control of the tournament with a timely chip-in for birdie on No. 11 (par 5, 495 yards). 

 

“The turning point of the whole tournament was No. 11,” said Murray, of Quinnatisset Country Club. “I hit a shot that spun off the green and I said to Jim [Colucci] that I haven’t chipped in for a bit. I knew the tournament was mine when that happened. That was the shot that won me the tournament.”

 

He backed it up with a birdie on 12 (par 4, 316 yards). He hit a pitching wedge from 115 yards to four feet.

 

In the heat of the battle, Murray had his clubmate Colucci in the cart with him in the final group. The two play a lot golf together at Quinnatisset and under as stressful of a round as Murray has played, he said Colucci provided some pressure relief.

 

“Being around someone who is calm and fun to be around, was helpful,” said Murray. “I felt comfortable, and he was a good riding companion. He encouraged me the whole way. It was so much fun.”

 

Murray didn’t take long to make an impact in the RIGA Senior Circuit this season. He finished second in the Senior Four-Ball (Gross) at his home club and finished fourth in the Senior Division of the John P. Burke Memorial at Newport Country Club and Pawtucket Country Club. And now he’s the Senior Amateur champion.

 

With his first RIGA victory, he puts himself in a great position to make his first Tri-State team.

 

“Making the Tri-State team was my only goal of the season,” said Murray, the reigning Senior Club Champion at Quinnatisset. “I told my wife that was my goal because it shows that you played well all year, and you get to represent your golf association. RIGA events are top-notch. I enjoy playing in them. It has been a nice season.”