By: Stephen Hanjack
WARWICK, Rhode Island (October 14, 2025) – With much of the field donning winter hats and heavy outer layers, Tuesday very much felt like a typical day at the Tri-State Matches. The annual autumn event between teams of Massachusetts, Connecticut, and Rhode Island mid-amateur and senior golfers returned to Warwick Country Club for the 91st playing of the event.
After one day of play Team Massachusetts and Team Connecticut are tied for the lead with 17.5 points each, while Rhode Island is close behind with 13 points.
In the morning, Connecticut jumped out to an early lead, grabbing 11.5 points in the timed Four-Ball matches, building a 4 point lead on Massachusetts and 6.5 point lead on Rhode Island. The afternoon Foursome Matches saw Massachusetts nab 10 points, Rhode Island 8 points, and Connecticut 6 points.
The event will conclude on Wednesday with the playing of 16 singles matches, all with 3 points available by way of the Nassau scoring format (1 point for winning the front nine, 1 point for the back nine & 1 point for the overall match).
Morning Results:
Connecticut 11.5 points
Massachusetts 7.5 points
Rhode Island 5.0 points
Match Info: Due to limited daylight, four-ball matches are limited to 4 hours and 15 minutes of play. Most matches lasted 15 holes.
In the timed Four-Ball matches, the Seniors led the way for Team Massachusetts. The Senior pairings of Keith Smith (Franklin CC) + Dean Godek (Agawam Municipal GC) and Steven Tasho (Thorny Lea GC) + Jim Patterson (Orchards GC) swept their morning matches, both earning a full 2 points, while Doug Clapp (Old Sandwich GC) + Brendan Hester (Pleasant Valley CC) earned 1 point in their match against Rhode Island.
Also earning a full 2 point sweep was the pairing of Ben Spitz (George Wright GC) + Sam Russell (Cranberry Valley GC) while Daniel Schwartz (George Wright GC) + Christian Emmerich (Kernwood CC) played to a half-point split with Rhode Island.
Afternoon Results:
Connecticut 6.0 points
Massachusetts 10.0 points
Rhode Island 8.0 points
In the afternoon, three of Massachusetts’ pairings earned a clean 2-point sweep. The pairings of Sam Russell + Jake Ratti (Wollaston GC), Ben Balter (Weston GC) + Ben Spitz, and Jim Patterson + Doug Clapp were all victorious in their matches against both Connecticut and Rhode Island. Brendan Hester and Dean Godek locked in 1.5 points while Ray Dennehy (Oak Hill CC) + Christian Emmerich, and Steven Tasho + Keith Smith each grabbed a full point in their matches. Daniel Schwartz + Cooper Griffin (Woodland GC) rounded out the scoring with a half-point split with Connecticut.
On Tuesday, three Massachusetts players earned a clean sweep through both morning and afternoon matches: Sam Russell, Ben Spitz, and Jim Patterson.
Singles matches will begin at 10 a.m. on Wednesday at Warwick Country Club. Massachusetts will look to repeat as Champions and have won 18 of the last 20 Tri-State Matches, with Connecticut winning the other 2 (2023, 2018). Rhode Island last won in 2001 at Newport Country Club.
The 6,600 yard Donald Ross championship golf course is carved gracefully into the edge of the coastline combining unmatched ocean views with a first-class golf experience. The par 69 layout features just one par-5, while ever-changing and ever-present winds often dictate the day’s play.
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