The realignment of NHIAA high school golf has thrown some local teams for a loop, while others are staying put and competing at the highest levels.
Bishop Brady stayed where it was and is poised for a three-peat in Division III. Senior Mady Savary is coming off a tournament-winning summer accompanied by Chase Connor, who won the NHIAA D-III boys individual title last year. Three other seniors will round out the squad to make Brady a really tough out for most of the division; the Giants went undefeated with the same core last year.
Starting at the top, Concord is returning a strong group of players that helped it achieve a fourth-place finish in the Division I finals. Zach Nelson will lead the charge as a senior, backed up by underclassmen. In total, the Crimson Tide have 18 players competing for a spot on the scorecard and will have their first match on Friday at Concord Country Club.
Coe-Brown and John Stark will look to stay competitive after moving up to the Division II level. The Generals finished sixth in D-III last year but were yet to finalize a roster for the upcoming season as of publication. The Bears had a losing record in D-II but are returning several players and have one of their largest rosters in years. Bow will look to lead local teams in the division after a fourth-place finish in D-II last year.
Last, but not least, in Division IV, Hopkinton is returning all of its starters after a “disappointing” fourth-place finish, according to head coach Ted Wells, at the state championships last year.
Concord
Division: I.
Coach: Mark McDonough (10th year).
Last year: 15-10, finished fourth.
Returning starters: Zach Nelson, sr.; Cam Bobrow, jr.; Parker Lamb, jr.
Top newcomers: Henry Diaz, so.; Garrett Courchaine, so.; Caden McCormack, so.
Outlook: “We have several returning players this year and expect the team to be very competitive.” — McDonough
Teams to beat: Bedford and Hanover.
Bow
Division: II.
Coach: Matt Davis (10th year).
Last year: 20-8, finished fourth.
Returning starters: Brady Anderson, sr.; Jacob Gancarz, sr.; Bryce Nichols, sr.; Sean Walton, sr.; Aidan O’Keeffe, sr.; Cavot Blaney, jr.; Alexander Perry, jr.
Top newcomers: Wes Catenza, jr.; Joshua Burns, fr.; Erik Hall, fr.; Piper St. Pierre, fr.
Outlook: “The outlook for us this upcoming season is to continue to build on the skills that our athletes have and to teach how to manage all aspects of the mental game. We are lucky to have strong golfers, and I believe that with a few tweaks and mechanical fixes we can see many of our players cut down on their overall scores.” — Davis
Teams to beat: St. Thomas, Bishop Brady (D-III) and Oyster River.
Coe-Brown
Division: II.
Coach: Steve Rowell (second year).
Last year: 3-20 in Division III, missed state tournament.
Returning starters: Braxton Stevens, so.; Pacey Rowell, so.
Top newcomers: Ainsley Albert, jr.; Bryan Kilbreth, fr.
Outlook: ‘”Coe-Brown golf is the process of rebuilding. Even as we make the jump from D-III to D-II, we have a full roster of 16 players this year, up from nine in 2025. Five of those are returning, up from zero last year.” — Rowell
John Stark
Division: II.
Coach: Rachel Fairhurst and Kim Bird (second year).
Last year: 16-10, finished sixth in Division III.
Merrimack Valley
Division: II.
Coach: Joe Dougherty (fourth year).
Last year: 10-20, missed state tournament.
Returning starters: Colton Magoon, jr.; Logan McCullen, jr.; Mason Crete, jr.
Top newcomers: Wyatt Wiggin, jr.; Reade Brown, fr.; Brady Rathbun, sr.
Outlook: “We will run out a mix of experienced upperclassmen in Colton Magoon and Logan McCullen while hoping to round out our top five scorers with several newcomers. Though not as deep in experience that we’ve had in years past, this team is young and skillful, which will make for an exciting season of development while remaining competitive.” — Dougherty
Teams to beat: Bow, Souhegan, Oyster River and St. Thomas.
Pembroke
Division: II.
Coach: Josh Coughlin (second year).
Last year: 12-17, missed state tournament.
Returning starters: Andrew Fitzgerald, sr.; Colbin Barker jr.; Lucas Girouard, so.
Top newcomers: Chase Boggs, jr.; Brayden Provost, jr.; Grady Goulet, jr.; Cam Gosselin, fr.
Outlook: “We have a young team and are looking to get better every day. Our hope is to be playing our best golf as we head into October.” — Coughlin
Teams to beat: Souhegan, St. Thomas, Bow and Oyster River.
Belmont
Division: III.
Coach: John Mattes (fourth year).
Last year: 15-8, finished tied for sixth in Division IV.
Returning starters: Max Ryder, sr.; Jordan DeFrancesco, sr.; Jasper Sottak, sr.; Jacob Akerstrom, sr. Alex Rowley, jr.; Ben Girard, sr.; Tyler Mull, jr.; Tyler Kelly, jr.; Jack Mitchell, so.
Top newcomers: Ethan Girard, sr.; Logan Barrett, fr.; Mia Ellis, jr.; Ace McCant, so.
Outlook: “It’s our first year in Division III after finishing sixth as a team in the Division IV state championship last year. With five returning seniors and four other returning letter-winners, (we’re) ready to go. Spirits are high.” — Mattes
Bishop Brady
Division: III.
Coach: Jason Bird (fifth year).
Last year: 23-0, D-III champions in 2024 and 2025.
Returning starters: Mady Savary, sr.; Chase Connor, jr.; Luke Bedard, sr.; Peyton Cone, sr.; Sean Dunn, sr.; Joseph Rawnsley, sr.
Top newcomers: Chandler Dimos, jr.
Outlook: “Looking to see how good can we be all around, building off of a great past couple of seasons and continuing to have the most fun in the division. We are a tight-knit group, (we) push each other, (we’re) focused and looking to get better one shot at a time. We feel very fortunate to be in the position we are in with the whole team. (It) will be a great year win or lose; one last ride for these fantastic seniors.” – Bird
Teams to beat: Derryfield, Gilford and Monadnock.
Hillsboro-Deering
Division: III.
Coach: Parker Howell (first year).
Last year: 17-9, finished eighth in Division IV.
Returning starters: Cadence Smead, sr.; Cooper Gelinas, jr.; Owen Bober, jr; Owen Boyle, so.
Top newcomers: Bentley Pelletier, so.; Oliver Brown, fr.
Outlook: “We are really a fairly young team, and this marks our first year moving up to Division III. I am excited about their potential!” — Howell
Kearsarge
Division: III.
Coach: Bubba Williams (10th year).
Last year: 11-17, missed state tournament.
Returning starters: Isaac Knox, sr.; Hazen Weathers, so.; Madden Gagnon, jr.; Matt Goen, jr.; Noah Stone, jr.; Lucas Connolly, so.
Top newcomers: Sawyer Ilg, sr.; Griffin Judkins, so.’
Outlook: “We’re returning a solid core of six players from last year’s team. All six have set their sights on producing a strong regular-season record with high playoff aspirations. Adding Ilg and Judkins to the mix will contribute to competitive practices, helping to push each other to get a little better every day!” — Williams
Teams to beat: Derryfield, Bishop Brady, Plymouth, Gilford and John Stark.
Concord Christian
Division: IV.
Coach: Caleb Holmes (fifth year).
Last year: 11-18, missed state tournament.
Returning starters: Isaac Hall, sr.; Demarco Donini, sr.; Brady Guillmette, jr.
Top newcomers: Anthony Owens, jr.; Oliver Doan, fr.; Alaina Kulbecki, fr.
Outlook: “Anthony Owens played on the team last year but was not in the starting rotation. Over the offseason, his progression has been the most evident.” — Holmes
Hopkinton
Division: IV.
Coach: Ted Wells (third year).
Last year: 19-4, finished fourth.
Returning starters: Devin Allen, sr.; Coley Wells, sr.; Molly Hodgdon, sr.; Jacob Lanman, sr.; Aidan Clay, jr.; Becket St. Cyr, jr.; Chet Behner, jr.
Top newcomers: Owen Buss, sr.; Mason Allen, so.
Outlook: “The team is having fun and looking sharp! After a disappointing fourth-place with an off day at states, we lost zero seniors and gained depth with Owen and Mason. Most importantly, the Hawks’ top four (Devin, Coley, Aidan and Beckett) are already shooting par to 6 over par on nine holes. Three have won matches in past seasons! They’re fun to coach and push each other and the team to be its best!” — Wells
Teams to beat: Mascenic, Sunapee and White Mountains.