By STEVE MAZZONE

Sports writer

BARRINGTON ---  On what was a miserable day for golf on Monday, Billy Andrade and Helen Alfreddson feel they “ham-and-egged” it during the first round of the CVS Caremark Charity Classic.
If all goes as planned this afternoon, the talented duo just might get the full breakfast.
Consistent and focused despite a steady rainfall and some strong crosswinds, Andrade and Alfredsson are atop the leaderboard of the two-day, best-ball event, firing a 6-under 65 at the Rhode Island Country Club (RICC).
The Bristol native and Alfredsson lead a crowded field that includes six teams within two shots of the lead. Among that group are a few more with R.I. roots. Finishing in a four-way tie for second at 66 were the teams of former Cumberland High standout Brad Adamonis and Brittany Lincicome and the uncle-nephew tandem of Dana and Brett Quigley, who grew up playing at RICC.
“We just ham and egged it well,” Andrade said. “We made a few par putts. We got up and down when we needed to. All and all, it was a great day, considering the weather. I don’t think I’ve ever seen Rhode Island Country Club play as difficult as it did today.”
The weather certainly did create havoc for the 10 teams on the course and the scores showed it. The score by Andrade and Alfredsson was the highest  by the first-round leaders in the 11-year history of the tournament.
The next highest was a 63 by three teams in the 2003 event, including eventual champions Rocco Mediate and Jeff Sluman.
“I don’t think the course could have played a yard longer,” said Hall-of-Famer Nick Price, who was paired with David Toms. “It was a really, really long golf course (today). You just had to gut it out.”
On the back nine, that’s exactly what Toms and Price did to also finish a shot behind the leaders with a 66. After carding a one-over 37 on the front nine, Toms and Price combined for a 29 coming in with Price registering that score on his own.
“We got off to a slow start. We didn’t do anything and the weather got worse,” Toms said. “I found it tough to hit the greens. All of a sudden we got it going on the tenth hole.  Nick started rolling in a lot of putts. It was fun to watch.”
“I’m just happy my putter got hot and put us in contention,” added Price.
For the R.I. contingents in the field, there’s a good chance to end an 0-for-10 drought when play resumes this morning.
Alfreddson, a Swedish native with seven victories on the LPGA Tour, is good friends with Andrade. The two were playing partners twice in a team tournament of the now-defunct J.C. Penny Classic and competed their last time together in the mid-1990s.
It was like old times on Monday. The pair registered their first birdie on the 392-yard fourth hole and had two more birdies on the sixth and eighth. With three more birdies on the back nine, including their last at the 16th to take the lead for good, the relaxed tandem put themselves in a good position to snare the title in their final round.
“I think it’s a lot of fun  to play in these type of tournaments,” Alfredsson said. “A lot of times in the bigger tournaments everybody gets more and more tense. It’s kind of fun to give each other high-fives.”
Competing in his first CVS tourney, Adamonis admitted he experienced some nerves at the start of his round. He even had an unexpected surprise.
“Right before a I teed off I had vertigo on the driving range,” he said. “Luckily it only last a couple of minutes.”
With a constant smile on his face, it was obvious that Adamonis was thrilled to play in his home state’s tournament.
“It was great from me because I was coming home to see my family,“ said Adamonis, who will be playing in the Traveler’s Championship In Hartford, Conn., beginning Thursday. “To be able to come home and play this event, it’s fantastic.”
Adamonis and Lincicome, playing in the first group,  carded a 33 on the front nine. The tandem finished off their round with a flurry, thanks to Adamonis. The ex-Clipper star nearly drained a 50-foot birdie putt on the 16th hole, the ball coming just inches from the cup.
“I was just happy to make par at that point,” he said.
On the 145-yard 17th hole, Adamonis hit his iron just six feet above the hole and made the easy birdie putt. He then capped off the round by nailing his approach shot on the 18th green about four feet from the cup and made another birdie to go to five under for the day.
Team Quigley also put themselves in contention to end the Rhody drought at CVS. Like Andrade, they finished second twice but have never been able to claim the overall prize.
“(Brett and I) play all winter long (in Florida) and we basically talk about winning this tournament,” Dana Quigley said. “There’s not a day that goes by when we don’t talk about it. This year we are going to do it.”
At one-under after 10, the Quigleys got a boost when the younger of the duo eagled the par-5, 11th hole. His approach shot landed just a few feet above the pin of the 538-yard hole.
“Brett just hit a perfect shot,” Dana said.