CRANSTON, R.I. — Joey Iaciofano carded a clutch birdie on the second extra hole Tuesday to defeat Mike Hamilton and claim the Rhode Island Stroke Play Championship at Alpine Country Club.
Playoff settles tightly contested championship
Iaciofano and Hamilton finished the regulation 54 holes tied at nine-under par, forcing a sudden-death playoff. After both players halved the first extra hole, Iaciofano sank a birdie on the second to secure the trophy.
“It means so much. My dad is pretty right now. I mean just to win it, especially even with Paul Quigley’s name being on the trophy, I already texted him and he is really happy. Having someone so close to me and winning basically his tournament, it’s pretty special,”
The Rhode Island Golf Association announced earlier this year that the Stroke Play Trophy would carry the name of Paul Quigley, a long-serving figure in the state’s golf community. Iaciofano said the connection made the victory particularly meaningful.
Strong closing round and recent form
Iaciofano opened the tournament with a 72, followed by a 69 in the second round and an impressive 66 in the final round, numbers that underpinned his run to the title. He said his confidence has grown after recent successes, including a win at the Rhode Island Junior Amateur late last month.
“What has clicked is my confidence has kind of rolled back to me a little bit, especially after the Juniors,” Iaciofano said. He credited his consecutive strong showings, including a solid performance in Nashville the week after the Junior Am, for fueling his belief coming into Alpine.
The win adds to an already busy summer for the Oxbridge Academy-bound senior. Iaciofano plans to return to Florida to begin his final year of high school, carrying the momentum from Rhode Island with him.
Local implications and future goals
Beyond the immediate hardware, Iaciofano said he hopes the form he displayed this week will translate into success during the high school season. He has been close in the past — finishing second and fourth in recent state high school championships — and identified the individual state crown as a primary target for the fall.
For the Rhode Island golf community, a playoff finish and the emergence of a local high school player as a state champion is a reminder of the strength of the state’s developmental pathways, from junior events to senior amateur competition.
Scores at a glance
| Player | Round 1 | Round 2 | Round 3 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Joey Iaciofano | 72 | 69 | 66 | −9 |
| Mike Hamilton | — | — | — | −9 |
Note: Full scorecards and hole-by-hole data were posted by the Rhode Island Golf Association and tournament organizers.
What this means for Alpine and the Rhode Island scene
Alpine Country Club, a frequent host for state-level events, provided a test that separated steady scoring from late-round pressure. Iaciofano’s closing 66 demonstrated the ability to take advantage of scoring opportunities when they matter most.
- Winner: Joey Iaciofano
- Runner-up: Mike Hamilton (lost in two-hole playoff)
- Notable: Trophy carries Paul Quigley’s name, a recent renaming by the state association
The victory arrives as Iaciofano prepares to spend the academic year and much of his competitive golf season in Florida. Maintaining the momentum from Alpine and the Junior Am will be central to his stated aim of winning the high school individual state championship this fall.
Coverage of Rhode Island amateur golf continues to follow promising local players as they move from junior events to senior amateur status and collegiate or prep-school programs. Iaciofano’s win on home soil adds another chapter to the state’s developing talent pipeline.
Reporting for WE NEWS: Priya Nair, State Correspondent.
