By: Stephen Hanjack
WARWICK, Rhode Island (October 15, 2025) – There is something about the Ocean State that brings out the best in Team Massachusetts. On Wednesday, a strong performance in singles matches proved to be the difference as Team Massachusetts claimed victory at the 91st Tri-State Matches at Warwick Country Club.
The win marks back-to-back victories for Massachusetts, who won last year at Worcester Country Club (MA). Massachusetts has now won 8-straight times when the event has been contested in Rhode Island.
Over the two days of play, Ben Spitz (George Wright GC) was the lone player to keep a clean sheet for Massachusetts, winning all 10 points available to him (2 four-balls, 2 foursomes, 6 singles).
Coming into the final day of the 91st Tri-State Matches, Massachusetts and Connecticut were tied at 17.5 points a piece, and Rhode Island with 13.
Wednesday was a picture perfect Rhode Island day, with temperatures much higher than what the players experienced on Tuesday. And early in the day it looked as though Rhode Island was stirring up a comeback.
Given the unique scoring (Nassau scoring: 1 point front, 1 point back, 1 point total) across multiple matches, the greatest excitement from the day often comes at the official scoreboard. Out on the course, the only real indicator of success is seeing which state is teeing off first on a hole, but even that can be a bit misleading.
Back to the scoreboard, Bob Ward (RIGA Executive Director) is the one responsible for drumming up the ohhs and ahhs. With each 6 (or 0) neatly added to the massive scoreboard, the picture slowly comes into focus, each team hoping for a collection of big numbers under their state’s logo.
In the early going, Rhode Island scores started filling the board, and there was a sense of something big brewing. Not having won since 2001, you could feel the genuine excitement building amongst the Rhode Island players and supporters.
Eventually though, the 6s started piling up for Massachusetts. Doug Clapp (Old Sandwich GC), and Dean Godek (Agawam Municipal GC) were the first to turn in perfect 6s, followed by Sean Fitzpatrick (George Wright GC), who is playing his first rounds of golf after taking two months off following his victory at the Massachusetts Amateur Public Links Championship earlier this summer. And joining them was Ben Spitz, who put the finishing touches on a perfect week at Warwick, winning every point available to him.
“We are thrilled for Team Mass to come out with the victory here in Rhode Island,” said Jesse Menachem, Mass Golf Executive Director/CEO. “We had some new faces involved this year, which is always great, and some that are quite familiar with this event and the format.”
Narrowly missing out on a perfect 6 was Brendan Hester (Pleasant Valley CC) who won 5.5 points on Wednesday. His game clearly still in top form after having won the Massachusetts Senior Amateur Championship at Worcester Country Club just a few weeks ago.
“The seniors played really strong. I think in a lot of ways, we shine there, just from the depth chart,” Menachem went on to say. “But just overall, great team win and great to get the group back together and come home with a trophy once again.”
Also performing well on Wednesday was the group of Steven Tasho (Thorny Lea GC), Ray Dennehy (Oak Hill CC), and Jared Winiarz (Segregansett CC), all of whom earned 4.5 points in their singles matches.
Next year, the Tri-State Matches will be contested in Connecticut at a location to be determined.
This year marks the second time that Warwick Country Club has hosted the Tri-State Matches. The last time this event was played at the coastal Rhode Island, Donald Ross layout was in 2013. Massachusetts won that event, making it 10-straight victories at the time. Massachusetts went on to win the next 4 as well, setting the record for most consecutive victories at 14.
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