The Kearsarge golf team began the season on a high note with three victories on Thursday at The Shattuck Golf Club in Jaffrey.
The Cougars totaled 30 points among their top-four golfers in the Stableford-scoring format. Molli Mayo led the way with a team-high nine points and was followed by a balanced effort from Jake LaBelle (eight points) and Odin Brayshaw (seven), while Tucker Cushing and Meghan Blood each finished with six points.
Conant and ConVal tied for second with 29 points each.
John Stark starts the season at 0-3 after posting 20 points in the opener. Anthony DeTone was the top performer for the Generals with seven points, while Kolby Spiers and Nick Lundeen had five each. Jacob Green and Colin Warecki rounded out the scoring with three points apiece.
The following is a team-by-team outlook for each of the area’s high school golf teams:
CONCORD
Division: II
Coach: Mark McDonough (3rd year)
Last year: 18-3, D-I runner-up
Returning starters: Matt Hauschild, sr.; Matt Burns, sr.; Colin O’Brien, jr.
Top newcomers: Sam Hopkins, fr.; Tyler Coskren, so.
Outlook: The Crimson Tide graduated eight regular starters from last year’s runner-up team that posted its best finish since 2007. But the team was do deep that several strong golfers who were on the sidelines for most of last season will get their chances this fall.
“Graduating eight starters will make it a challenge to compete at a high level this year,” McDonough said. “We are, however, optimistic as many juniors and seniors that didn’t get much playing time in matches last year are emerging team leaders and posting some great practice rounds. Additionally, we have some great athletes joining the team that we hope can contribute to our success.”
Teams to beat: “Bedford and Exeter always have great programs with depth turning out quality teams year after year,” McDonough said.
COE-BROWN
Division: II
Coach: Chris Mowers (2nd year)
Last year: 3-22, did not make tournament
Returning starters: Aidan Perra, sr.; Cole Perra, sr.; Evan Menard, sr.; Jacques Dubois, jr.; Alex Davidson, jr.; Will Moelhmann, jr.
Top newcomers: Daniel Strum, sr.; Wells Lambert, jr.
Outlook: The Bears have a solid group of veteran golfers eager to qualify for the Division II tournament.
“We have six veterans and a couple of newcomers that are all excited to play and compete this fall,” Mowers said. “They want to be part of this team and contribute in any way possible.”
Teams to beat: St. Thomas, Oyster River
Division: II
Coach: Beth Hamilton (10th year)
Last year: 2-23, did not make tournament
Returning starters: Nate Carter, sr.; Nate Wood; Max Lemaire; Josh Gifford, sr.; Pete Landry, sr.
Top newcomers: Michael Strazzeri; Andrew Chiavaras
Outlook: The Spartans return a good chunk of their starting lineup from a year ago and are hoping some of the new additions can provide scoring right away.
“We are always trying to have command of our course management skills to score as many points as possible,” coach Hamilton said. “We are excited to have some underclassmen that have come in with some playing experience to build on future successes.”
Teams to beat: Windham, St. Thomas
Division: III
Coach: Kevin Charleston (17th year)
Last year: 2-18, did not make tournament
Returning starters: Paige Irving, sr.; Will Robarge, sr.; Eamonn Kelley, jr.; John Phillips, so.
Outlook: “The returning core of players has improved over the summer, which we hope will translate to lower scoring in matches,” Charleston said. “The new players will work hard the next few weeks, with the hope they can contribute to the team scoring by the end of the season.”
Teams to beat: Bow
Division: III
Coach: Phil Davis (5th year)
Last year: 14-6, 5th
Returning starters: Kate Shoemaker, jr.; Alex Pfiefer, sr.; Matt Cherian, sr.; Matt Wiley, so., Ben Boyer, jr.
Top newcomers: Nate Steigmeyer, fr.; Chris Grimbilas, fr.; Peyton Vachon, so.
Outlook: The Giants feature a deeper lineup than in previous years, but lost their No. 1 player to graduation as Nick Grimbilas heads to Endicott College. Even still, the mix of Shoemaker, Pfiefer, Cherian and Boyer, all upperclassmen, provide Brady with a solid foundation, and Nick’s younger brother, Chris, joins the team this year as he hopes to follow in his older brother’s footsteps.
“We have a lot of experienced players and more depth than in past years,” Davis said. “We should be able to compete at a high level this year in Division III.”
Teams to beat: Derryfield
Division: III
Coach: Matt Davis (3rd year)
Last year: 21-1, D-III champions
Returning starters: Jake Mielcarz, sr.; Matt Lamy, so.; Justin Murphy, jr.; Amelia Soucy, so.; CJ Smethurst, sr.
Top newcomers: Cam Evans, fr.; Blake Scarinza, fr.; Finn Benoit, fr.
Outlook: The defending champion Falcons, winners of six of the last seven D-III titles, are once again looking strong.
“This team has the capability of putting together very low numbers,” Davis said. “Our length from the tee box and iron shots will be our biggest strengths throughout the season. Most matches we could easily have five solid scores to choose from. We have some young players that can be vital in providing scoring.”
Teams to beat: Pelham, Derryfield, Sanborn, Plymouth
JOHN STARK
Division: III
Coach: Matt Caputo (3rd year)
Last year: 4-17, did not make tournament
Returning starters: Jacob Greene, Hunter Patterson, Kolby Spiers, Colin Wareki, Nick Lundeen, Anthony DeTone, Jayden Lamothe, George Reph
Top newcomers: Cody Ugarte, Adam Morrissette, Benjamin Prescott, Aidan Johnson
Outlook: The Generals did not qualify for the team D-III tournament last year, but with eight returning golfers and another year of experience, Caputo is optimistic about this season.
“This is everyone’s second year with the Stableford scoring and our second year in D-III, so I think we’re starting to figure out how to be the most successful,” Caputo said. “Our strengths will be our character and demeanor on the golf course.”
Teams to beat: Derryfield, Bow, Pelham
Division: III
Coach: Chris Dayhoof (1st year)
Last year: 2-19, did not make tournament
Returning starters: Molli Mayo, sr.; Odin Brayshaw; Ryan Bassi, Jacob LaBelle; Tucker Cushing; Alex Chapman
Top newcomers: Megan Blood, fr.; Connor Heath, fr.
Outlook: Mayo, the lone senior on the squad, returns as the top player for the Cougars after finishing second overall in the nine-hole girls’ championship at Highland Golf Course last year. Kearsarge will be counting on Mayo to put up points on a regular basis while the other golfers continues to grow.
“The rest of the team has come a long way since last year’s first season of playing the Stableford format,” said Bubba Williams, last year’s coach who will sit out this season as he recovers from knee surgery and Dayhoof takes the reins. “I look for this team to put up numbers in the 60s at times this season. I don’t see us as a huge threat yet. But with a young team, one never knows.”
Teams to beat: Fall Mountain, Sanborn
Division: IV
Coach: Brian McGinn (6th year)
Last year: 6-14, did not make tournament
Returning starters: Richie Peschel, sr.
Outlook: The Hillcats graduated four of six members from last year’s team, and they are hoping to recruit a couple more players to fill out the roster.
“I am hoping that we can make it to the state tournament as a team, though this is a rebuilding year,” coach McGinn said. “Many of the players on the team this year are new to the sport.”
Teams to beat: Mascenic, Trinity, Inter-Lakes, Hopkinton, Sunapee
Division: IV
Coach: Dave Chase (4th year)
Last year: 15-5, D-IV champions
Returning starters: Dan Miner, sr.; Andrew Fairneny, sr.; Colby Marshall, sr.; Kody Dexter, so.
Top newcomers: “All five freshmen with Hal Stokes and Evan Fairneny leading the charge,” Chase said.
Outlook: Last year the goal was just to qualify for the D-IV tournament. The Hawks did that, entering as the No. 5 seed, but got hot on the day of the championship, shooting a season best 333 to win the team title by 10 strokes over undefeated No. 1 Mascenic. The goal remains the same for Hopkinton this year, and the Hawks look poised to reach that goal with the return of Miner (fourth in D-IV) and Dexter, who finished 11th individually as a freshman.
“The Hawks will look for consistency with the remainder of the team,” Chase said. “Any one of eight golfers could round out top six.”
Teams to beat: Littleton, Mascenic, Trinity, Inter-Lakes