KINGSTON, R.I. – Rhode Island opens its Spring schedule in one month as the young Rams squad takes on a challenging slate leading up to the 2024 Atlantic 10 Championship.

URI is led by six-time Atlantic 10 Player of the Week Bryson Richards. A five-time titlist in his career, Richards is one of the most decorated players in program history and is coming off a 2023 Division I PING Northeast All-Region campaign a year ago.

The fifth-year senior leads a seven-man roster that includes senior Geronimo Narizzano, sophomore Aidan O'Donovan and freshmen Tony Liu, Josiah Tong, Owen Rooney and Seb Carlsson. During the Fall portion of the season, the young Rams put together back-to-back second-place finishes at the Sacred Heart Classic and the Nassau Intercollegiate, creating momentum for the Spring.

"This is a big schedule for us. Playing six in the spring will be a challenge, but we have the players who can handle it academically and athletically," Rhode Island head coach Gregg Burke said.

The spring campaign opens at the Surf Club Invitational, hosted by Appalachian State March 11-12. Last spring, Rhode Island had two of the top six individual finishers in the 108-golfer field. Fifth-year senior Bryson Richards finished the tournament tied for fourth overall, finishing the tournament 5-under par. Current assistant coach Brandon Gillis had the tournament's low round on the par-71 Surf Golf and Beach Club course, shooting a final-round 65. As a team, the Rams placed ninth out of 18 schools a year ago.

"We have not played particularly well at the opener, but this group seems to be working harder than ever this time of year," Burke said.  "We love the Surf Club, and we love the way the tournament is run. The field is always terrific."

Less than a week later, Rhody will look for its third straight team title at the Carpetbagger Classic in Urbana, Md. from March 16-17. Played at Worthington Manor Golf Club, the Binghamton-hosted event has been a successful venture in recent years. In 2023, Gillis and Richards finished second and third, respectively, while Aidan O'Donovan provided a lift by finishing 16th in the field of 84. Rhody finished five strokes ahead of the field to win the event for the second year in a row. 

"We are back-to-back winners at the Carpetbagger, so we go there with targets on our back," Burke said. "Having two freshmen in the top three makes us inexperienced but dangerous."

Rhode Island returns to the Cutter Creek Intercollegiate in Snow Hill, N.C. to close out March. The three-day tournament run from March 29-31 on Cutter Creek Golf Club, the site of the 2023 Carolinas Senior Amateur Championship last September. Richards placed seventh a year ago.

"Cutter Creek is another golf course we love, and it is a great field," Burke said. "Three of the guys will have seen the course from the year before so we are hoping for better results."  

When the calendar switches to April, the Rams will change competition style for the Dragon Match Play Invitational. The two-day event will be hosted by Drexel at the Green Valley Country Club in Lafayette Hill, Pa.

"Playing in a match play event at the Dragon is something we've been working on for the past couple years," Burke said. "It will really spark the guys' imagination and will make us really focused for the final two. You can't hide or count on a teammate to bail you out in match play.  We'll see who is ready for the stretch run for sure."

Rhody's final tune up before the Atlantic 10 Championship will be at Penn State's Rutherford Intercollegiate April 13-14. A year ago, Richards took medalist honors while leading URI to a fourth-place finish in the highly competitive 12-team field.

"The Rutherford is just a great event with tons of tradition," Burke said. "Bryson will be looking to defend his title and we'll be looking to back him up a whole lot more. We finish with the A10's and go to a revamped Cypress Point. Hopefully the freshmen will have the experience we need to contend, and we get some other help for Bryson, who should be in contention the entire time."


2024 Rhode Island Spring Schedule
March 11-12
Surf Club Invitational (Appalachian State University)
The Surf Golf and Beach Club
Myrtle Beach, S.C.

March 16-17
The Carpetbagger Classic (Binghamton University)
Worthington Manor Golf Club                         
Urbana, Md.
 
March 29-31
Cutter Creek Intercollegiate (East Carolina University)
Cutter Creek Golf Club
Snow Hill, N.C.
 
April 8-9
Dragon Match Play Invitational (Drexel University)
Green Valley Country Club
Lafayette Hill, Pa.
 
April 13-14
The Rutherford Intercollegiate (Penn State University)       
Penn State Blue Course
State College, Pa.
 
April 26-28
Atlantic 10 Championship
Grand Cypress Links Course
Orlando, Fla.