There is a new leader in the standings in the R.I. Golf Association’s player-of-the-year race. He is from Potowomut, by way of England.

 Bobby Leopold is a welcome addition. He is an excellent young talent who has come to Rhode Island at a time when the state has lost numerous young players, both men and women, to the pros or because they have moved to other states.

 Leopold already has won one of the RIGA majors, the Burke Invitational. Last week he was the low Rhode Islander in the Northeast Amateur. Perhaps most impressively of all, he also has won the Hornblower Invitational in Plymouth, Mass., an event that brings together many of the best players in New England.

 ``He is an excellent ball striker,’’ said Bob Ward, the RIGA’s executive director. ``He’s straight and he hits a lot of greens. When he makes putts, he is really good.’’

 Lepold came to the United States to attend Rollins College in Florida. He played on the team there. He also met Taylor Cooke, daughter of Scott Cooke, a Potowomut member, who is the coordinator of the RIGA’s junior team.

 When he graduated from Rollins, Leopold moved north. He recently completed work at Bentley on his MBA. He played in some events last summer and did well. His excellent start this year has pushed him very much into the picture to finish in the top three in the points standings kept over two years to determine Rhode Island’s squad for the USGA’s state team championship which will be held in Missouri in September.

 However, Leopold will not be around for all the tournaments before then -- he and Cooke are getting married this summer.

 Leopold will be part of a field of 124 for the Amateur in two weeks at Crestwood.

Kudos for Wannamoisett

 It got lost in the barrage of low scores at the Northeast Amateur last week, but the course renovation at Wannamoisett is drawing praise, both from members and the players who took part in the Northeast.

 While a number of clubs in the area are fighting for survival, Wannamoisett spent $3 million in the last year renovating its course. That’s a surprise not only because of the economy, but also because Wannamoisett is generally conceded to be the best-conditioned course in the state.

 The new work, which added several tees -- the second hole has a back tee that makes it a 504-yard, par-4 -- reworked bunkers and added new bunkers, makes a good thing even better.

 The work had little impact on the Northeast. Those players are so good they hit it over everything and were barely affected, if at all, by the changes. The new work will have a much bigger impact on day-to-day play at the club.

 One prediction here: The 11-under posted by Dan Woltman to win the 48th Northeast, will stand as the record for a quite a while. The amazing numbers posted this year, including a record 21 players finishing under par, had nothing to do with the renovations and everything to do with the weather.

 The constant rain and lack of sun made the course soft and defenseless. Let superintendent Mark Daniels have some sun and firm greens and Wannamoisett will return to being a stern test, even for the best young players in the game.

Women's Amateur to RICC

 The United States Golf Association finally made official last week what has been known for some time. That is, the U.S. Women’s Amateur Championship will return to Rhode Island Country Club in 2011. . .

 Point Judith’s Anna Grzebien, with her strong play over the last month, has climbed to 55th on the LPGA money list with $91,331. Among other stats, Grezebin is 38th on the tour in driving distance at 256.4. The leader is Brittany Lincicome. Lincicome, who played in the CVS Classic, is at 273.2. . .

 The Rhode Island Public Links Championship will be contested Sunday and Monday at Triggs and Cranston with one of the largest fields, 120 players, in years. . .

 Applications were so numerous for the RIGA’s Senior Four-Ball net division that a second course will be added. In addition to being held at Valley, Agawam Hunt also will host.

 ``We’re going to do the same thing we did with the Four-Ball, have players play one course one day and the other the second day,’’ Ward said. ``We appreciate Agawam helping us. We have 110 teams entered and six more on a waiting list.’’

 The teams of John and Brad Auclair and Arthur and Andrew Fiorenzano tied for low gross, with a 74, in the RIGA Father and Son Junior Division Championship Tuesday at Foster. The Senior Division was scheduled Wednesday but was postponed by the storm and reset for Aug. 4. . .

 Jeff Martin had another strong run in the PGA Professional National Championship this week. The Point Judith assistant, who finished in the top 10 last year, tied for 17th in this year’s event, which finished Wednesday in Santa Ana Pueblo, N.M. Martin had rounds of 70-70-72-70. . .

 The New England Women’s Golf Association Amateur Championship comes to Metacomet next Tuesday-Thursday. Robyn English of Warwick, runner-up in the recent RIWGA Amateur, leads the Ocean State delegation. . .

 The RIGA has a new intern, Rob Eaton of North Kingstown. He interned with the Mass Golf Association last summer. . . A correction for the finals of the RIWGA Championship last week: Pat Walsh beat Priscilla Foley, 4 and 2, for the title in the Association Cup division.