​SEEKONK – Day 2 of qualifying play at the 2026 Rhode Island State Amateur wasn’t about chasing a higher spot on the leaderboard. With rain falling all day and winds picking up later, it was a test of survival. Bobby Leopold weathered a three-putt bogey on his opening hole and went on to shoot a 1-over 72, posting a two-day total of 67-72-139 to earn medalist honors. Players who left Ledgemont Country Club at seven-over par, hoping to make a playoff, managed to survive and ended up inside the cutline. Seven players will return Wednesday morning, trying to survive a playoff and secure the final spot in the match-play portion of the tournament.
As the weather threatens more dramatic shifts for the rest of the week—friday possibly bringing storms—the recurring theme will be resilience for the next two rounds. Match play is a different game, and maintaining a steady hand through the ups and downs is how you become champion. So who will take the crown this week? You could wait until Friday for the answer, or you can read the predictions below.
On No. 14 at Ledgemont Country Club, Bobby Leopold tees off during Day 2 of qualifying at the 2026 Rhode Island State Amateur on Tuesday, June 7, 2026. Six players will contend for the No. 32 seed, but in reality there’s little point in doubting Leopold’s chances of advancing past the first match of the day. In a duel between two former Rhode Island All-Staters, No. 17 Cole Vieira is favored over No. 16 Jasper Bruin Slot, with Vieira’s left-handed style presumed to have an edge—though the exact advantage remains a topic for debate.
In any matchup featuring college players, anything can happen, so we’re leaning toward No. 8 Shawn Clary, a rising sophomore at Bryant, over No. 25 Adam Gorman, a rising junior at York College, simply because Clary’s height—6-foot-3—might give him an opportunity to unleash power off the tee. No. 9 Harry Dessel is a slam-dunk pick over No. 24 David Marshall, given that Dessel is described as a robotic competitor with a relentless drive to win RIGA titles. No. 4 Sam Powell is the favorite against No. 29 Tyler Cooke, but Cooke remains a compelling pick because this Rhode Island State Amateur has a strong local flavor and Rhode Islanders have historically shined in this event. No. 13 Brendan Lemp and No. 20 Jesse Hellring present the most entertaining name matchup in the field, and it’s Hellring who’s chosen to win that clash.
Max Jackson reacts after his birdie attempt on No. 15 at Ledgemont during Day 2 of qualifying at the 2026 Rhode Island State Amateur on Tuesday, June 7, 2026. No. 5 Max Jackson appears locked in and is preferred over No. 28 Nate Winsor. In the final top-half bracket matchup, No. 12 John Jackopsic, a former Boston College player, faces No. 21 Matthew Costello, a rising junior at UConn. Since this isn’t a hockey game, we’re siding with Costello because he competes for a school that prioritizes athletic success.
Moving into the bottom half of the bracket, I’ll set aside any personal biases about specific clubs and pick No. 2 Nathan Davis over his competitors, recognizing that the rest of the field will be jockeying for position as the round progresses. The path to match play is narrow and unforgiving, but the storyline remains clear: survival, strategy, and a steady rhythm will define who advances and who prepares for the next challenge.