By STEVE MAZZONE

Sports writer

BARRINGTON - Every year when the top golfers grace the Rhode Island Country Club for the CVS Caremark Charity Classic they always seem to make it a point to say how special it is to be part of the tournament, which annually donates millions to local charities.
For Brad Adamonis and his family, those feelings were multiplied this week.
The former Cumberland High all-stater, who is in his second year on the PGA Tour, was playing in his first CVS tourney since its inception in 1999. He got the invite when five players that were scheduled to be on the course Monday, made the cut of the extended U.S. Open down at Bethgate Black. He’ll be playing in the Travelers Championship in Hartford, Conn., later this week.
Dave Adamonis Jr., who is the brother of the PGA player, was among the gallery. His father, Dave Adamonis Sr., was unable to attend. He has been battling lung cancer since being diagnosed in early May.
“(Brad) knew there was going to be some guys that potentially couldn’t play because of the U.S. Open. He didn’t know if he would get an invite or not, but obviously he and my family are thrilled he did,” said Dave Adamonis Jr, who is an assistant coach for the successful Johnson & Wales (Fla.) University golf team. The elder Adamonis is the head coach of the squad, which in 2005 earned a national title. “My parents found out right away because my dad’s been struggling with his health. They called me shortly after. It’s a real special treat for him, for us. We normally go out to Hartford to watch him play in (the Travelers Championship) out there. But to have him play right in our backyard and to see him play twice this week, it’s really special.”
A few hours after he got the news, Brad Adamonis contacted his dad, who has been bravely fighting for his life.
“It was a pretty special moment for the two of them,” said Adamonis Jr. “I’m sure my dad would like to be here this week, thankfully the Golf Channel is at least covering the back nine. He’s still getting a chance to see the action.”
The youngest of the Adamonis became a full-fledged member of the PGA Tour last year after spending his previous 12 years as a professional golfer on the Nationwide Tour and the like. He had one victory on the Nationwide Tour, taking the 2007 WNB Golf Classic. He also had a second-place finish at the John Deere Classic in his rookie PGA season last year.
“For Brad to get to this level, it’s really been a family effort,” said Dave Adamonis Jr.  “It’s been a lot of sacrifices from everybody in the family. As a unit, we really share in the joy of him being out here today.”
***
For the first nine years, the CVS Classic had been blessed with near perfect weather.
The last two years, the tourney hasn’t been quite as lucky.
In the 2008 event, torrential downpours and lightning forced hosts Brad Faxon and Andrade to shorten the second round to just 15 rounds, which had four teams deadlocked at 15 under. The title was eventually won by Bubba Watson and Camilo Villegas after a three-hole playoff.
Although he wasn’t thrilled by the conditions this week, Adamonis still didn’t find them to unbearable.
“For me, it’s just a normal day. I live in Florida now. I don’t really want to play in the cold. But when I was eight, nine years old, I was dying to get out in the cold. The snow and everything,” said the 36-year-old Cumberland native, who grew up playing on the Kirkbrae and Pawtucket country clubs. “I remember playing with my grandfather. I was like nine years old and hit my first 300 yard drive - on the ice! That was awesome.”
Adamonis’s partner at the CVS tourney, Brittany Lincicome, who grew up in Florida, admitted she’s not accustomed to the weather.  But the 23-year-old Lincicome, who captured the Kraft Nabisco Championship earlier this year, won’t use the conditions as an excuse with how she competes.
“Everyone has to deal with it,” she said. “You just have to grind it out and hopefully keep it in the fairway.”
***
At age 62, Dana Quigley was the oldest of the players competing in the CVS tourney. He has been paired with his nephew, Brett Quigley, since the popular, two-day event began back in 1999.
The elder Quigley is now in his 13th year on the Champions Tour, where he has racked up 11 victories and amassed more than $14 million. Even though he has played on countless top-notch courses throughout his long career, he still considers Rhode Island Country Club, the site of the CVS event, as one of the best.
“The most fun is playing Rhode Island Country Club,” said Quigley, who grew up playing on the Barrington course. “It’s still my favorite course in the world and I have played hundreds and hundreds of courses. It’s one of Donald Ross’s masterpieces. It’s almost a perfect golf course.”
Quigley, who holds an ironman streak of 264 straight starts on the Champions Tour, says he never gets tired hitting the links.
“I still love it, every minute of it,” he said. “When I’m home in (West Palm Beach) Florida, I still play 36 to 45 holes every day. I never miss it. It’s my passion. It’s like an addiction.”