GolfNewsRI

It has been a long two years, but high school golf is finally back. 

Over the next five days, GolfNewsRI will be publishing previews of each division – starting today with the Central Division. 

This season, each team will play four matches en route to the State Championship tournament. 

The season unofficial begins this Monday and Tuesday with the Challenge Cup at Alpine Country Club. 

Central Division

The Central Division will once again be a battle between two high school golf powers, Bishop Hendricken and East Greenwich. 

Hendricken

Under Head Coach Rick Angeli, the Hawks have won a State Title (2017) and finished second four times.

Overall, Hendricken has lost one league match in eight years.

The last time high school golf was played, the Hawks finished in a tie for second with East Greenwich at the 2019 State Championship. Wheeler, led by Allison Paik, took home the trophy.  

“I anticipate we will be right in the mix as we usually are. It is going to be us and East Greenwich battling it out,” Angeli told GolfNewsRI.

For the Hawks, they feature the coach’s son, Ricky and Harry Grimes as the top two. 

Ricky was All-State as a Freshman and Sophomore and is looking to repeat as a senior. 

Grimes was named All-Division in his sophomore year. 

Below them, Brady Williams and Andrew Chadwick will be expected to carry a big load this season, according to Angeli.

“I see those four guys being the top four. I feel good about those four,” Angeli says. 

The Hawks will have an A Team and B Team in the Challenge Cup. Following that, they will play a match against Pilgrim next Wednesday. 

Angeli adds, “Im expecting a good year out of our crew, I’m excited. Ricky and Harry are really looking forward to going out with a bang their senior year.”

East Greenwich

The Avengers come into this season after an 11-1 season in 2019. 

“We are looking forward to the abbreviated season and hoping the Avengers are in the mix at the end,” said Head Coach Marc Brocato. 

East Greenwich will be led by sophomore Ryan Marcantonio, who has been post scores in the low 70s at Potowomut Country Club. 

Potowomut is EG’s home course, so that is surely a good sign. 

Behind him will be Jack McMullen and sophomore Brendan Fox. 

McMullen is a multi-sport athlete, with his main sport being baseball, but Brocato says he will get in a few matches. 

“He’s looking to get himself primed for the state championship,” Brocato told GolfNewsRI. 

Fox is looking to secure a starting spot after playing well in the pre-season. 

A newcomer to the Avengers is Cam Warrener. 

Warrener transferred over from Hendricken and will be looking to crack the starting lineup as well. 

The Avengers also have a number of juniors and seniors looking to get their first varsity playing time this year. 

According to Brocato, all have been shooting in the low to mid 40s (on 9 holes) and are hoping those numbers come to fruition when the season begins. Mike Quattromani, Jake Barron, Sam Slaiby, Adam Stern, Nolan Kelley are leading the way here. 

Best of the Rest 

West Warwick and Cranston West both finished 7-5 during the 2019 season. 

West Warwick will be led by seniors Grant Black and Meghan Janicki. 

Those two will need help from juniors Evan Firth and Nicolas Petrangelo. 

According to RIIL, West Warwick has just one freshman on the team, James Proulx. 

For the Falcons they will look to build off their 7-5 campaign in 2019. 

That was the year after the Falcons lost Alexis Florio too graduation. She currently is a sophomore at the University of Columbia.