LEMP, HETERICK WIN 31ST MID-AMATEUR CHAMPIONSHIP
By Joe McDonald
RIGA Senior Writer
WESTERLY – Brendan Lemp shot a 132 the first time he competed in a RIGA championship.
He was 11-years-old when he participated in the 2003 Junior Amateur Championship at Potowomut Golf Club. Instead of losing interest, or getting discouraged, his disappointing performance motivated him to improve his game. Well, six years later he won the Junior Amateur, which propelled his game to a new level.
Fast forward 15 years.
Lemp, 32, won the 31st Mid-Amateur Championship Wednesday at The Misquamicut Club. He finished the two-day championship 65-69 – 134 on his home course.
“It’s very cool,” he said of his Mid-Amateur title. Wednesday “was very stressful, but it was a lot of fun just battling out there.”
Lemp was the medalist after Round 1 and held off a late surge by Newport Country Club’s John Hayes, who shot a 64 during Round 2 to finish 3-under for the championship. Lemp made an incredible 40-foot birdie putt from off the green on No. 17 to get to 4-under. He finished with a par on No. 18 to win his third career RIGA championship, including the Junior Amateur and 2015 John P. Burke Memorial.
“John made a really big push at the end, making four birdies in a row, and I knew I was tied (3-under) with three holes to go. It made it interesting,” said Lemp, who knew he needed to make birdie on the par-5 17th for a chance to win. When his ball dropped into the cup, the gallery of fellow Misquamicut members, along with family members, erupted in celebration.
“I was lucky enough to get it to go,” Lemp said.
It also helped that conditions were perfect for the two-day championship. Temperatures soared towards the 80s, the sun was shining and there wasn’t a cloud in the sky. The wind was nearly non-existent as the American, Misquamicut Club and RIGA flags hugged the flag pole atop the property. It felt more like a mid-summer’s day than Oct. 22-23. Safe to say it, and the players agreed, it was the best two days of the entire golf season.
“It’s a phenomenal piece of land. The weather has been unbelievably good. You couldn’t ask for anything better,” said Bruce Heterick, who won the Senior Division of the championship. “The golf course is great. You’ve got all the history with (architects) Willie Park, Tom Bendelow, Seth Raynor and Donald Ross. It’s just a pleasure to play. It’s in such great shape and it’s a lot of fun. It’s a place you can’t get bored playing day after day.”
After Lemp’s victory was complete, it was easy for him to reflect on how far his career has come since that day he shot a 132.
“It made me mad,” he said of his performance at the 2009 Junior Amateur. “I thought, ‘I can’t be that kind of golfer.’ So, I kept grinding and there’s a lot to learn in tournament golf, and I don’t know if you ever stop learning . . . it’s just nice to get a trophy again.”
Lemp was proud to showcase his home course to the rest of the field. His fellow members were elated to witness a championship here. Club president John B. Daukas was among the Misquamicut members on hand for the post-round celebration and he was thrilled with how well the club was represented during the championship.
“We’re absolutely thrilled to have been able to host this with the RIGA,” he said. “We think it’s a great organization and we’re very proud to be part of it and be able to help out. The course has been here for almost 130 years and it’s a real thrill to have one of our members, Brendan Lemp, win it. He grew up here and played golf here all his life, so it’s great to see a nice young man like that do well. Thanks to the RIGA for hosting such a wonderful event. We couldn’t have had better weather.”
Daukas made sure to thank superintendent Dean Bozek, golf pro Jim Corrigan and general manager Phillip Koretski, and the entire Misquamicut Club staff for an outstanding job during the championship.
“It was a real pleasure to have the RIGA here and I hope it will be back in future years,” Daukas said. “And, here’s to Brendan.”