'Angel' guides him to emotional victory

08:49 AM EDT on Monday, July 11, 2005

BY SHALISE MANZA YOUNG
Journal Sports Writer

PROVIDENCE -- Tom McCormick became a believer yesterday.

Going into the second and final day of the R.I. Public Links Championship at Triggs, his home course, McCormick was six shots behind the leader, Jon Costa III.

But McCormick played with the feeling that his late father, Mike, was close by. How else to explain his 1-under par 71, and playoff victory over Jamie Lukowicz for his first win in an R.I. Golf Association event?

"I felt like I had an angel on my shoulder," McCormick said. "I used to make fun of people who said things like that, but I believe now. I didn't play well (Saturday), but I didn't think about what anyone else was doing today. He was there. You just get that feeling."

Mike McCormick passed away in April at the age of 58. The former Triggs member won the Publinx six times. He taught Tom how to play golf there, taking him to the downhill par-3 14th when his son was just three, and Tom still remembers the first time he got a par on the hole at five years old. Mike's ashes are scattered in the greenside bunker on the 11th. Tom birdied that hole yesterday.

Tom McCormick's 71, which tied for low round of the day with defending champion Arnout Bruins Slot, Joe Fogarty and Anthony Milhomes, coupled with Lukowicz's 1-over 73, gave each a 145 and sent them into a playoff that lasted one hole.

Starting on the par-4 first, both had forgettable tee shots. McCormick to the left, just a few feet from the fence, and Lukowicz's to the far right, into the rough on nine and behind the trees that separate the two holes. Lukowicz's chip back was stalled by some tree branches, leaving him to punch into the rough on one.

McCormick's second shot put him on the fairway, and his chip shot landed 12 feet high of the cup. He missed his first putt but sank the second for a five. Lukowicz's fourth shot went off the green to the left, and he was unable to hole his fifth shot.

"I really felt he was watching over me. I told myself, 'Just try to make 5.' (Jamie) would have had to make an unbelievable 5 from (where his tee shot went)," McCormick said. "It's really emotional. He would have liked to see this."

Lukowicz, who plays out of West Warwick, is feeling good about his game going into this week's State Amateur at Kirkbrae.

"Tom and I were hoping for a playoff. But if anyone was to win it, it's Tommy," Lukowicz said. "This was all preparation for Tuesday (the first round of the Amateur). I was second at the Four Ball, second here, hopefully there's a first somewhere along the line."

Bruins Slot, who also plays out of Triggs, only enters a couple of tournaments a year, and put up a good showing in defending his championship. He finished third, with a 75-71-146.

He played well yesterday, and after seeing that he missed out on the playoff by a shot, Bruins Slot immediately thought of the short tap-in putt he missed Saturday at Cranston. Still, he was gracious in defeat.

"It was a perfect weekend, with great opportunities for scoring," he said. "No one thought we'd be able to catch Costa after the way he played (at Cranston), but the conditions here were great and it shows because of the great scores."

Costa, who shot a 3-under 68 at Cranston, had a rough round yesterday, carding a 79 for a 147 total. That tied him with Anthony Milhomes for fourth.

By virtue of his 75 yesterday, Triggs' Peter Hallas won the First Division title with a 156 total. It was his second straight First Division win.

Championship Division

Tom McCormick, Triggs 74-71 -- 145

Jamie Lukowicz, West Warwick 72-73 -- 145

Arnout Bruins Slot, Triggs 75-71 -- 146

Anthony Milhomes 76-71 -- 147

Jon Costa, III, Swansea 68-79 -- 147

David Conley, Triggs 77-71 -- 148

Joe Fogarty, Triggs 77-71 -- 148

Garrett Medeiros, Rumford 75-74 -- 149

Kurt Bodziony, Fenner Hill 77-73 -- 150

George DeBlois 76-76 -- 152

Paul Quigley, Triggs 74-78 -- 152

Cosmo Minicucci, Triggs 76-77 -- 153

Jeff Kafalas 76-77 -- 153

Dave Carvara, Montaup 77-77 -- 154

Steven Heath, Triggs 76-78 -- 154

Rick Bernard, Triggs 80-75 -- 155

Mike Lombardi, Cranston 77-78 -- 155

Keene Ferrer 76-79 -- 155

Ron Gigliodoro, Jr., Triggs 75-80 -- 155

Ray Denis, Cranston 76-80 -- 156

David Fox, Cranston 80-77 -- 157

Lou Parente, North Kingstown 79-78 -- 157

Steven Forleo, Cranston 76-81 -- 157

Robert Ricciuti 80-78 -- 158

Robert Peterson 79-79 -- 158

Stephen Scungio, Cranston 78-80 -- 158

Dom Marcone, Cranston 78-80 -- 158

Dennis Meldonian, Cranston 80-79 -- 159

Todd Jarvinen, Cranston 80-79 -- 159

Jeremy Anderson, West Warwick 80-80 -- 160

David Deverell, Triggs 77-84 -- 161

Jack O'Brien, Triggs 79-84 -- 163

Vincent Martucci Jr, Cranston 80-83 -- 163

Lucien Agniel 80-87 -- 167

First Division

Peter Hallas, Triggs 81-75 -- 156

William Gelsomino 81-78 -- 159

Steven Jezierny, Triggs 84-76 -- 160

Keith Blanchette, Triggs 81-79 -- 160

Bob Ward, Triggs 84-80 -- 164

Frank Chicarella, Triggs 86-78 -- 164

Todd Krueger, Cranston 81-83 -- 164

James Sylvester 81-83 -- 164

Joseph D'ambra, Cranston 85-80 -- 165

Paul Ruggieri, Cranston 81-84 -- 165

Joe Lovett 85-81 -- 166

Alan Dogon 86-80 -- 166

Tim Carpentier 88-79 -- 167

Andrew Ferruche 83-84 -- 167

Richard Mangano Jr., Triggs 86-82 -- 168

John Graham 85-83 -- 168

Rob Felici, Cranston 82-87 -- 169

Matthew Sargo 88-82 -- 170

Brian Cote 86-84 -- 170

David Ruggieri, Cranston 81-89 -- 170

Adam Lupino, Cranston 85-86 -- 171

Dan Diezner 86-86 -- 172

Calvin Crook, Triggs 87-86 -- 173

David Paolantonio 87-86 -- 173

Chris Day 83-90 -- 173

Michael Miozza, Cranston 82-91 -- 173

Massimo Chicarella, Triggs 88-87 -- 175

John Vacca 88-88 -- 176

Glen Lombardi 84-92 -- 176

Ray Geffre 87-93 -- 180

Fred Goodwin 88-92 -- 180

Bruno D'arezzo, Cranston 88-93 -- 181

Second Division

William Volpe 92-79 -- 171

Steven Placella 89-83 -- 172

Dan Yorke, Triggs 90-84 -- 174

Louis Mosca 92-83 -- 175

Vincent Ingalla 92-84 -- 176

Dennis Brophy, Triggs 92-84 -- 176

Paul Dumont 98-78 -- 176

Matt Bobola 92-85 -- 177

John Fallon, Cranston 90-87 -- 177

Robert Felici, Cranston 92-87 -- 179

Russell Bizier 95-84 -- 179

Michael Koczwanski 91-89 -- 180

Guido Iacobbo, Cranston 90-92 -- 182

Tim Arnold 90-95 -- 185

Alexander Tutsch 93-93 -- 186

Richard Mann 97-89 -- 186

Anthony Pierpaoli, Cranston 93-95 -- 188

Laurenco DaSilva 97-92 -- 189

Joe Porreca 99-98 -- 197