GolfNewsRI

We start our series with the Central Division, home of the defending state champion Bishop Hendricken and state runner up, East Greenwich.

Central Division

For at least the second straight year, the Central Division will once again be a battle between two high school golf powers, Bishop Hendricken and East Greenwich. 

Bishop Hendricken

The Bishop Hendricken Hawks enter the season seeking to become the first team to repeat since Moses Brown did it three times from 2014-2016. 

This season, Hendricken is working to replace two of their star players from last season’s title run in Harry Grimes and Ricky Angeli, the coach’s son, both of whom graduated. 

“We lost our top two guys from last year, we do have the potential to be stronger on the back end than were were last year. We are a work in progress right now. We are trying to figure it out,” said head coach Rick Angeli. 

Hendricken will be led this season by juniors Andrew Chadwick and Brady Williams, both of whom had a full off season of playing competitive golf both in Rhode Island and down in Florida at the Doral Publix Championship. 

Most recently, Chadwick and Williams finished 31st and 38th at this past week’s Challenge Cup event. 

Hendricken will also look for a contribution from sophomore Gianni Fontenault. 

“Gianni has played a lot of challenge ups events, played down in Florida so he has some tournament experience and we are trying to get him going,” said Angeli. 

Fonenault finished 72nd at the Challenge Cup Championship. 

A surprise edition to the Hendricken lineup is senior Luis Raposa, who previously played baseball, but this year is jumping over to the golf team. 

As the season nears, Coach Angeli knows that right now, Hendricken isn’t quite ready for prime time, but that doesn’t mean they won’t be by late May early June. 

“I wouldn’t say we have a team, right now, as constructed, that can challenge La Salle, depending on what Max Jackson does, but we will see how it goes.” 

East Greenwich

The East Greenwich Avengers come into the 2022 season looking to finish one rung higher than last year in the final State Championship standings – meaning they would be taking home a title.  

Avengers head coach Mark Brocato was named RI High School Golf Coach of the year back in December by the National Federation of State High School Associations, now looks to add a State Title to the mix. 

“Looking for a big year for the Avengers,” said Brocato. 

EG will be led by junior captain Ryan Marcantonio, who is very much tournament tested after a busy offseason. 

He finished fifth in the New England High School Golf Championship and playing a the Doral Publix Championship. 

Marcantonio finished 24th in the Challenge Cup Championship earlier this week. 

Following Marcantonio is senior captain Cam Warrener, who is looking to end his high school career on the highest of highs. 

“Cam has what I consider to be the best swing in RI junior golf. Plenty of raw talent and he can really send it,” said Brocato. 

Warrener finished 46th in the Challenge Cup Championship earlier this week with back-to-back 82s at Potowomut. 

Junior Captain Brandon Fox rounds out the top three for EG and is coming in shooting scores five to seven shots better than he did last year. 

Rounding out the lineup is two freshmen Dylan Marcantonio (Ryan’s brother), and Garrett Carney. 

Both players have been posting scores in the low 40s during practice and will bring some young energy to the squad. 

Brocato says sophomore Tyler Assay is also in the mix for a starting spot. 

Best of the Rest 

Cranston West – The Falcons were the only other team from the Central Division to make it to the State Championship tournament last season, however, they did not make the day two cut. 

This season, Cranston West will be led by junior Michael DeCesare and senior Madeline Barbieri, while getting contributions for Peter Vachon and Joe Corso.  

DeCesare finished 81st at this past week’s Challenge Cup event, Vachon and Corso finished 88th and 91st respectively. 

West Warwick – Led by coach Cameron Quinn, West Warwick will look for a big year from their four seniors, Riley Correia, Evan Firth, Ivan Matteson-Lenihan and Nicholas Pedus. 

The other teams in the division are Pilgrim, Toll Gate and Classical High School. 

One player to watch at Toll Gate is Ryan Dacy, who has the ability to win the State Individual Championship.