SEEKONK — Youngsters have taken centerstage this week with the 104th edition of the Rhode Island Junior Amateur, which began with stroke play qualifying rounds in Westerly at Winnapaug Country Club earlier in the week followed by the match play portion at nearby Ledgemont CC in Seekonk.

The boys' championship division semifinals were set following the completion of action Wednesday, July 26, at Ledgemont where the tournament co-medallist Max Jackson, who plays out of Pawtucket CC and has won a pair of Rhode Island Interscholastic League individual titles while representing LaSalle Academy, defeated Andrew Chadwick, 2-and-1.

Jackson, entering his senior year of high school in the fall, will be Ryan Marcantonio, who defeated Will Owens 1-up, in one semifinal Thursday morning, July 27. Sebastian Carlsson, who beat Cole Vieira of Wannamoisett 1-up, and Chad Correia, on home soil at Ledgemont and a winner over Rocco Capalbo 4-and-3, will face off in the other semi. The finals for all divisions follow later Thursday afternoon.

First Division notes
The boys' First Division semis feature three golfers with local ties, especially players from Barrington High School. And two of the quarterfinal matchups were all-Eagle affairs.

BHS's AJ Colonna of Rhode Island CC defeated club mate and fellow Eagle Ryan O’Connell 7-and-5 to earn his spot in the final four opposite Cameron Seiffert of Connecticut National, who beat Nicholas Emery 3-and-2.

A spot in the other semi was conducted between BHS teammates Sean Bonneau and Adam Gorman, who both play out of Swansea CC. Bonneau won 3-and-1 and will face Wannamoisett's Quinn Dumas, who defeated Sam Iden 1-up.

Gorman and Bonneau engaged in a back-and-fourth front side. On the back, Gorman took control of the match going from 1-down to 2-up with wins on 13, 14 and 15, then closed out the overall victory even as both players struggled on the par 4 17th. Gorman made a par to Bonneau's bogey.

Dumas is a Plainville, Mass, resident about to start his sophomore year in high school at Xaverian in Westwood. He trailed 2-down for much of his quarter before leveling the match with pars on 13 and 17. A third par at the 420 yard last decided the match as Iden made double bogey.

U-14 Division
Two more youngsters with local ties advanced to the boys' Under-14 Flight semis as Mitch Taggert of RICC needed 21 holes to get past Charlie Rosa of Crestwood.

Taggert made a par 4 on the 412 yard third hole to earn his spot in the final four opposite Gavin Walsh of Kirbrae, a 4-and-3 winner over Nico Capalbo.

The other semi features Wannamoisett's Michael Letendre, a 5-and-winner over Luke Cavanaugh. Letendre, an incoming freshman to Tabor Academy who lives in Raynham, Mass., will face Kailer Louangxay of Button Hole, who beat Jacob Nocon of Wanumentonomy 3-and-2.

Girls' Division
Two RICC players reached the Girls' Championship Division quarters, but only one advanced.

Olivia Williams defeated Kristina Greim 2-and-1. She'll face Adriana Eaton, beat RICC's Claire McTaggart 3-and-1.

Lily Dessel, also of RICC, defeated Hanley Correia, of Ledgemont, 1-up to make it to the final four opposite Kylie Eaton, of Kirkbrae, won beat Samantha Tinsley 8-and-6.

Only five holes were won in the Dessel-Correia match. The latter won the first. Dessel then tied it on the 10th. Correia went right back up by winning the 11th. Dessel leveled on the 14th then won the 17th to take her first lead before both bogeyed the last.

Stroke play notes
Jackson and Joey Iaciofano shared qualifying medallist honors for the boys at Winnapaug as each shot 3-under, 69s. Wannamoisett's Joe Earley was also one of six to finish under par at minus-1, 71.

East Providence's Nathan Carter, who had a superb freshman season this past spring for the Townies and who plays out of Silver Spring Golf Course in city, finished in a share of 11th at 2-over as did Wannamoisett's Vieira.

Vieira beat Iaciofano in 19 holes to advance to the match play quarters. Earley lost to Will Owens 6-and-5 and Carter to Marcantonio 7-and-6 in the Round of 16.

Williams shot a superb 4-under 69 to win the girls' medallist honor at Winnapaug. Dessel was second and the only other player to break par at minus-1, 72.