Thirty-four years after winning the tournament that kick-started his illustrious amateur career, Todd White found himself back for the 20th time at the Northeast Amateur. Played annually at the par-69 Donald Ross-designed Wannamoisett Country Club in Rumford, Rhode Island, the Northeast has long been one of the most elite amateur events in America.
White, 56, of Spartanburg, South Carolina, authored a wire-to-wire victory that year, shooting even-par 276, a score that had been bettered just three times in the 29 previous editions. Twenty-two-years-old at the time and fresh off an outstanding college career at Furman University, White defeated players such as David Duval, Jim Furyk and Jay Sigel.
Asked about his memory of the victory, White told me recently: “I played solid golf the last day. I had a calmness about me.”
“The quality of play is much higher, especially with the college kids. Today’s college players are more complete. They are so much more tournament-tested now. Their short games are really good, allowing them to take more chances.”
Todd White
White shot 1-under 68 in the final round to post a three-stroke victory. Writing in the Providence Journal, Paul Kenyon called it “a near flawless round.”
After a brief and unproductive visit to the professional game, White got reinstated as an amateur, and he was a regular at the Northeast for many years. In 20 starts at Wannamoisett, he has seen an awful lot of change here and in the amateur game.
“You have to begin with the depth of the field,” White said. “The quality of play is much higher, especially with the college kids. Today’s college players are more complete. They are so much more tournament-tested now. Their short games are really good, allowing them to take more chances.
“You also have bigger, stronger, more athletic kids. When you put today’s equipment in their hands, they are going to hit the ball a long way. Wannamoisett’s defense is green speed and rough, and that is a good defense.”
Wannamoisett, which dates to 1914 and hosted the 1931 PGA Championship, has been transformed over the years.
“The golf course has changed dramatically,” White said. “It used to be tree-lined. They have removed so many trees, really impacting depth perception. But it’s all good. It’s beautiful.”
More recently, course designer Andrew Green led a renovation effort that began in September of 2021 and finished around May of 2022. The greens were restored to Ross’ original designs, bunkers were fixed and moved, and some extra tee boxes were added. It still plays at less than 6,800 yards, modest by today’s standards for elite amateurs.
“I really like the latest changes to the course,” White said ahead of the tournament. “Very aesthetically pleasing, and there are new hole locations that provide playing options.”
White would go on to have an outstanding amateur career in South Carolina and nationally. At age 55, he won the South Carolina Amateur last summer, 33 years after he won it for the first time. He has made 37 USGA appearances, including a victory with Nathan Smith at the inaugural U.S. Amateur Four-Ball in 2015 and a Walker Cup appearance in 2013.
Returning to Wannamoisett meant a lot to White last week, who had not played the Northeast since 2018. “It’s always good to be here. This is a special place. I fell in love with it as soon as I first saw it. I have so many great friends here.” He missed the 54-hole cut after rounds of 73-73-70.
White heads south about 40 miles this week to compete in the U.S. Senior Open at Newport (Rhode Island) Country Club on the Atlantic coast. It will be his third Senior Open and his 38th USGA appearance. He earned that berth by virtue of his triumph at the 2023 U.S. Senior Amateur.
His goal at Newport: “To play each individual shot. I am just playing Newport Country Club. I am not playing the Senior Open.”
That is a philosophy that has served him well for 40-plus years of walking the fairways of the amateur game.
E-MAIL JIM
Top: Todd White, during the 2024 U.S. Amateur Four-Ball
Jonathan Ernst, USGA