Veterans, new faces head into semifinals

CRANSTON — For once, the veterans are more than holding their own against the kids in a R.I. Golf Association Championship.

While several college stars are still very much in the running for the 58th Four-Ball title, it was the older players who carried the day yesterday at Cranston Country Club.

The team of E.J. Wholey and Ted Spencer, both among the most frequent competitors at the state level for two decades, led the veteran charge. They not only won twice to advance to today’s semis, they did it with flair.

With Wholey doing the work, they came from 2-down with three to play to nip collegians Jonathan Pannone and Greg Morris in 19 holes in the afternoon quarterfinals. Wholey got up and down from bunkers on both 16 and 17, once for par, the second time for bird, to pull his team even. He then drained a curling 30-foot birdie putt on the first extra hole to win it. His partner, Spencer, led the celebrating.

“I’ve got myself a horse. I can ride him for 20 years,” Spencer said of Wholey’s outstanding play. “He’s a thoroughbred.”

They have veteran company on the final day. The Triggs team of Rick Bernard and David Conley emerged as an equally surprising semifinalist. They beat still another veteran duo that had a big tournament, Bill Gagnon and Peter O’Neill of Pawtucket, 3 and 2, in the quarters.

The two other teams still alive are the duo of Eugene DiSarro (still another vet) and his partner, recent URI grad Jason Pannone, and the tourney medalists, college stars Drew Harker and David McAndrew.

Wholey and Spencer have been around so long, and played in so many events, that they enjoy themselves wherever they go. Spencer said as much to Bob Ward, the RIGA’s executive director, after his team won its second-round match, 2 and 1, over David Apuzzo and Todd Curley, in the morning.

In the afternoon, he helped, but it was Wholey, who carried the team to the semis. Morris and Pannone led most of the way. They were 2-up on 16 where all four players had trouble on the par-4. Wholey got up and down from a bunker for the only par.

On 17, Wholey hit two good shots to the greenside bunker on the par-5, but was faced with a long bunker shot to a pin tucked over a hill. He hit it to 12 feet and made the putt to tie the match. After 18 was halved, Morris hit three good shots to leave himself with a 10-foot birdie putt on the par-5 first hole. Spencer was 12 feet away for par. Wholey was just short in two then got a tough break on his chip.

“It landed right on the sprinkler head and kicked right,” he said. It left him with a 30-footer over a round with perhaps a three-foot break from left to right for his bird. Pannone, putting for birdie, was behind him and putted first.

“He showed me the line,” said Wholey, who then made the putt for the improbable birdie and, when Morris’ putt would not fall, more free golf.

They will meet DiSarro and Jason Pannone, Jonathan’s older brother. That team had the most impressive day, going 7-under on the way to a 3-and-2 decision over Tom Acciardo and Jon Costa in the quarters.

The match turned at the 10th. DiSarro and Pannone were 1 up but the long-hitting Costa, with the 360-yard hole playing downwind, crushed a driver up the hill to within 15 yards of the green.

From the bottom of the hill, however, Pannone flew his ball directly into the hole for eagle. When DiSarro chipped in for bird to win the 12th, he and Pannone were on their way to the semis.

SECOND-ROUND RESULTS

 Drew Harker-David McAndrew def. Jason Hull-Andrew Madden, 2 and 1; David Marino-Andrew Pelliter def. Peter Angelone-Ray Lajoie, 2 and 1; Rick Bernard-David Conley def. Conor McMahon-Gary Sykes, 1 up; William Gagnon-Peter ONeill def. Dave Carvara-Ben Conway, 1 up; Tom Acciardo-Jon Costa III def. Andy Calcione-David Capuano, 3 and 2; Eugene DiSarro-Jason Pannone def. George Donnell-Danny Mollicone, 3 and 2; Greg Morris-Jonathan Pannone def. Rob Grossuguth-Jamie Lukowicz, 1 up; Ted Spencer-E.J. Wholey def. David Apuzzo-Todd Curley, 2 and 1.

QUARTERFINALS

 Harker-McAndrew def. Marino-Pelliter, 2 and 1; Bernard-Conley def. Gagnon-ONeill, 3 and 2; DiSarro-Pannone def. Acciardo-Costa, 3 and 2; Spencer-Wholey def. Morris-Pannone, 19 holes.

SEMIFINAL MATCHES

 7:30 — Harker-McAndrew vs. Bernard-Conley; 7:40 — DiSarro-Pannone vs. Spencer-Wholey.

Final at 12:30