Rivard survives Cranston cut
Cumberland golfer cards 77, back for second day of state tournament
CRANSTON – Cumberland High junior Derek Rivard should be proud of what he accomplished on Day 1 of the two-day Rhode Island Interscholastic League individual and state golf championships.
Rivard rebounded from a shaky start to card a plus-6 77, a score that means he’ll return to Cranston Country Club on Wednesday morning. Rivard sits nine strokes off the pace set by Bishop Hendricken’s Colin Sutyla, who notched five birdies en route to an impressive 68.
A year ago, Rivard missed the cut for Day 2 of the state competition after shooting an 83 at the same exact par71, 5,256-yard layout he succeeded in conquering on Tuesday.
He bogeyed the opening two holes but settled down to rattle off three straight pars on two separate occasions before making the turn.
Rivard had a streak of four straight pars before bogeying the finishing hole.
“I was nervous on my first tee shot and my putting was off, but I had to readjust. I wasn’t hitting my putts as hard as I should have, but I started trusting my rhythm more,” said Rivard, a First Team All-Division selection. “It’s always great to see improvement year to year. Seeing growth in yourself is nice to see. Hopefully I can have a better round (on Wednesday, where his tee time is 8:06 a.m.).”
Weathering the first day of a tournament where the weather conditions were a tad on the humid side wasn’t the only test that Rivard successfully passed. He played with brand-new equipment after losing everything – including his bag – in a car accident earlier this month. Going from clubs he was familiar with to ones that he’s still in the process of understanding what they’re capable of doing made Tuesday’s result that much sweeter.
“It’s shows what can happen when you don’t put pressure on yourself,” said Rivard. “You can have a good time out there and score as long as you put the ball in the fairway. If you put it in the rough, you’re going to have a hard time getting up and down.”
For a team in Burrillville’s position, the hope is that Tuesday’s experience proves valuable down the road. The Broncos are scheduled to return everyone who teed it up at Cranston Country Club and proved integral in the program’s first division title in three decades. Jake Trimble, a freshman and also the son of head coach Matt Trimble, shared team medalist honors with Noel Teter. Both shot 83 with Teter recording a birdie on the par-four, 400-yard ninth hole.
“Jake had a good round and Noel has been steady throughout the season. He’s our No. 1,” Matt Trimble said. “They all tried hard, but the sun was hot out there. Good group of kids.”
None of the teams that sent a full complement of players to the states ended up factoring in the team race. Mount St. Charles, which placed ninth, received an 80 from Ben Ellis and an 81 from rising star Daisy Cao. Cumberland and Burrillville tied for 10th while Lincoln, which received an 81 from Tim Cullen, placed 16th.
Only three of the 18 teams that qualified will compete for the state crown on Wednesday – Moses Brown, Wheeler, and Bishop Hendricken.