KINGSTON, R.I. – When Rhode Island hits the course for the first time in the 2024-25 season, head coach Gregg Burke will do so with one of the deepest rosters the program has seen in years. URI has six players capable of playing in the No.1 slot, which is open following the graduation of Bryson Richards, one of the best players in program history.

Sophomore Tony Liu will man the top spot when Rhode Island tees off at the Wolfpack Intercollegiate Monday. A three-time Atlantic 10 Rookie of the Week last season, Liu averaged a 73.3 over 24 rounds as a true freshman, twice giving URI top-three finishes in an outstanding rookie season.

"This is the deepest team top to bottom in the last two decades.  We have had teams as strong as this one through five but with hard work, this team could be as good as any of them," Burke said. "Tony had a powerful freshman year and has come back even better. He'll start the season in the top spot, but there are five others who could get there at some point. He is as physically gifted as any player who has played at URI."
 
Two other players locked up top-three spots in the lineup to open the year. Graduate transfer Sean Magarian from Assumption was one of the top players in Division II during a stellar career with the Greyhounds, while sophomore Josiah Tong was a significant starter for much of his freshman season. Magarian was a two-time All-Northeast 10 selection, while Tong averaged a 73.9 over 24 rounds and was a one-time A-10 Rookie of the Week a year ago.

"Sean had an outstanding career at Assumption University and wanted to see how much more he could develop in a program like ours," Burke said. "He had an outstanding summer capped off with a win at the Gately Cup, and he has the game and demeanor to be very successful.  I just don't see him coming out of the lineup all year.

"Josiah had a dominant summer. He had multiple wins and some terrific Top 10 finishes. He has added a lot to his game since he came here and works at every aspect of his game and academics every day. He'll start the season in the third slot, but I see him winning a tournament as early as this year."

There will be significant competition for the remaining lineup spots throughout the year. Junior Aidan O'Donovan has been a steady lineup presence in his first two seasons. He came on strong last Spring, finishing fifth at the Rutherford Intercollegiate in the team's final competition before the Atlantic 10 Championship. Over the summer, he was in the same Gately Cup field as Magarian, with both Rhody golfers running away from the field with matching 7-under scores.

"Aidan O'Donovan has begun to accept the things he needs to do on and off the golf course to fulfill his incredible potential," Burke said. "He is one of those players who will be as good as he wants to be if he brings focus and attention to detail. He had a fantastic second half of the summer and has developed a great deal in areas beyond the golf course. No one has impressed us more with improvement from a year ago than Aidan.  He is another player who I see winning a tournament before he leaves us."

Two incoming freshmen – Tyler Bruneau and Luke Stennett – both figure to be key foundation players for the program over the next four years. Both are USGA Junior National Championship qualifiers with major talent.
 
"The two freshmen comprise as good a freshman class as we've had in my 15 years, and we've had some very good ones," Burke said. "Tyler played No. 2 at the prestigious Benjamin School that won the Florida State Championship. He had as good a summer as anyone and was the second alternate to the US Amateur. He has incredible upside and as he learns how to play the game more, he will win multiple tournaments for us.

"Luke Stennett is a monster talent. He is likely the longest hitter in the history of URI golf and has a competitive fire that has created some great comebacks. He won four Connecticut State High School Individual Championships and won the Connecticut Junior this summer after being down four after nine holes, which he erased with a 28 over the final nine holes. He has a lot of work to do on his putting but when that comes around, his future in golf is limitless."

Adding to the depth this year are sophomores Seb Carlsson and Owen Rooney, both of whom stepped in at times during their freshman season. Both appeared in five of the team's 10 events a year ago and showed strong development as the season moved along.

"Seb is the all-time grinder out there and Owen just needs to have more confidence out there," Burke said. "Both should get into the lineup at some point."

Also with the team but unable to compete is Bennett Masterson, a transfer from Elon. While he did not play for the Phoenix, Masterson will sit a year-in-residence with the Rams and be eligible to compete in 2025-26 due to NCAA transfer rules.

"Bennett plays his best golf in big events and was our only player to play in both the U.S. Open Sectional and the U.S. Amateur Super-Qualifier," Burke said. "He will be in the mix for our top spot next year."

With a strong schedule that features six Fall tournaments and three more in the Spring before the Atlantic 10 Championship, the young and talented Rhode Island team will be battle tested when all is said and done.
 
"The schedule is formidable and for the first time in a long time, we are not favored in any tournament, which we love," Burke said. "The competition each week just to travel has never been more fierce. That makes for a strong team."