CRANSTON _ Mike Calef and Michael Hamilton already have had hectic travel schedules this summer and Thursday they earned still another trip _ to Los Angeles to compete in the U.S. Amateur at Riviera. Those two posted 2-under-par 142 totals in a 36-hole day at Alpine, just enough to earn the two available berths in the 72-player field. Both shot rounds of 70-72. Calef was among the early finishers and had to sit around for more than an hour before finding out he was in. Hamilton was in the last group on the course. It looked at that point as if there would be a five-way playoff for the second spot among players who finished at 143. But after going out in 2-over 39 on the front side in the second round, Hamilton charged home with a back-side 33, including a bird on the next-to-last hole, to take the second spot for himself. ``Can you believe this? This is great,’’ a happy Hamilton said as he accepted congratulations from other players. Hamilton now lives in Jacksonville Beach, Fla. He was one of the top young players in Rhode Island as a teenager and later played for URI. He moved to Florida after graduation and worked for a time at TPC Sawgrass as he debated a career in golf. But he got a job in the financial industry and decided he would not turn pro. He is a former member at both Alpine and Kirkbrae (he grew up in Lincoln) and is on vacation back home to see his family this week. ``I didn’t really sign up here because it’s Alpine. I just wanted to be back here for the Fourth of July,’’ he said. He had an unusual caddie for the day. He is good friends with Bob Walsh, the University of Maine basketball coach. The two developed a friendship while Walsh was the Rhode Island College coach and he and Hamilton played at Kirkbrae. ``He called me and told me he was going to be here and asked if I wanted to caddie,’’ Walsh related. ``I told him, `I’m in.’ I love being around golf.’’ The question now becomes whether Walsh will be available to go to Los Angeles next month for the national championship. ``Can you do it?’’ Hamilton asked. ``If it’s not a recruiting period I might be able to,’’ Walsh said. ``We’ll have to check the dates.’’ Hamilton had eight birdies and six bogeys on the day. Calef, a former Massachusetts Amateur and Mid Amateur champion, has done even more traveling recently. He moved to Texas four years ago. ``We moved because of my wife’s job,’’ he said. ``We’ve been in Dallas. Now, she got another transfer and we’re moving back here now, to Middletown (Rhode Island).’’ Calef, a former pro, had five birds and three bogeys on the day. With everything in transition, Calef said he is not sure whether he will join the RIGA or return to the Mass Golf Association competition. ``I think for the rest of this year I’ll play in Mass. That’s what I know,’’ he said. ``After that I’m not sure.’’ The five players who finished at 143 and missed by one included Bobby Leopold, the former Rhode Island champion. Leopold had 11 birds, more than anyone, but his 10th bogey, on his last hole of the day cost him the chance at a spot. Rhode Island Country Club product Matt Broome, who now lives in Florida and works as an agent for pro golfers, equaled the low round of the day with an afternoon 69 for his 143. Lefty Jake Bauer of Portsmouth, Brendan Hunter and Casey Mills, both from Massachusetts, also came in at 143. Four-time Rhode Island Amateur champion Brad Valois was among those at 144. He played despite a sore back that has bother him for some time. He carried his own bag and took only 11 clubs (three below the maximum) to ease the pressure on his back. The Amateur will be held Aug. 14-20 at Riviera CC in Los Angeles, CA.
