CAPE ELIZABETH — Riley Griffin shot a 2-under 69 in the first round and teammates Davis Chatfield and Patrick Welch fired 68 and 69, respectively, in the second round Monday as Rhode Island jumped out to a commanding 16-shot lead at the 2015 New England Junior Amateur Invitational at The Purpoodock Club.
The Ocean State is 14 over par 724 in the best five-of-seven format heading into Tuesday’s final round of the 54-hole championship. Defending champ Massachusetts is second at 740.
Connecticut is third at 748 while New Hampshire and Vermont are tied at 762 after a scorecard error by Vermont eliminated the team’s low score of the second round. However, Alex Giroux of Vermont made a hole-in-one on the 15th hole.
Maine trails the field at 776. Cole Anderson of Samoset Resort in Rockport leads the contingent after posting a two-round total of 148 on Monday, including a first-round 72.
Drew Powell of Bangor and Penobscot Valley Country Club in Orono finished at 154, firing an even-par 71 in the morning before shooting 83 in the afternoon. Other Mainers include Ryan Collins of Purpoodock (156), Eric Dugas of J.W. Parks in Pittsfield (158), Logan Thompson of Barnes Brook in Enfield (160) and 14-year-old Maine Junior Champion Austin Legge of Purpoodock (172).
Massachusetts was led in the first round by Max Ferrari, who was one of just four players at 71. Powell of Bangor, Patrick Welch of Rhode Island and Keeton Foster of New Hampshire also shot even par.
The event features the top seven junior golfers from each of the six New England states. It rotates between the six New England states annually and this year the Maine State Golf Association is hosting the event with the help of the Purpoodock Club.
The tournament features both an individual champion at the end of 54 holes, and also will have one New England state take home the team title, which counts the best five of seven scores from each round.