GolfNewsRI

This upcoming Rhode Island high school golf season is just days away from getting started.

In fact, practices have already begun across the state.

The 2024 season presents some very intriguing matches and storylines, all leading up to the State Championship in early June.

GolfNewsRI has taken the liberty to go through the entire schedule and break out the most intriguing matches to watch – at least on paper.

Team and division previews will be coming out over the next week or so.

Before you continue reading, a few things should be noted. 

This list is based solely on the Rhode Interscholastic League schedule, meaning that Challenge Cup events, and Invitational Tournaments (ie. Hendricken Invitational) are not included. 

The Most Intriguing Matches

(Locations are not listed for every match) 

4-22-2024

Cranston West vs Hendricken vs West Warwick at West Warwick CC

An early season matchup between Cranston West and Bishop Hendricken. 

Both squads made the State Championship last season and will look to improve on their results. 

West Warwick gets an opportunity to make a statement on their home course. 

4-23-2024

Rogers vs Mt. Hope vs St. Mary-Bay View at Newport Country Club

The match is at Newport Country Club just a few short months before the U.S. Senior Open. 

These three teams will look to continue building their squads to make a late season run at a State Championship berth. 

4-24-2024

St. Rays vs Ponaganset (Course Not Listed)

In 2022, St. Rays went from having one player (Nick Emery) to forming a golf team for the first time since the 2010-11 season. 

Now, just two years later, the Saints have 15 players on the roster and will look to start competing on a high level. 

Ponaganset was competitive in a tough North Division last year and will look to improve. 

4-25-2024

La Salle vs Moses Brown vs Achievement First at Kirkbrae

Of course La Salle are the two-time defending state champions and that will be the big story line throughout the season. 

But the interest here is Women’s Amateur Champ Olivia Williams battling High School State Champ and Women’s Am Runner-up Adriana Eaton. 

Williams now a junior and Eaton a sophomore. Feels like a big summer of battles between the two of them is ahead. 

Kirkbrae was the site of Williams’ Amateur win.

5-6-2024

Lincoln vs Cumberland vs North Smithfield (Course not listed)

Mount Saint Charles was the only team to make the State Championship Tournament last season, but did not make the second day cut. 

In previous years, Cumberland and North Smithfield have been the dominant teams in the division. 

Lincoln is on the rise. Last year, Head Coach Nick Maresca told GolfNewsRI that the Lions were a year or two away.  

5-8-2024

North Kingstown vs Prout vs Exeter West Greenwich (Course not listed)

North Kingstown and Prout both made the State Championship tournament last year, and both made the second day cut. 

NK beat Prout by nine shots in the tournament to capture a fourth place finish. Prout took sixth. 

5-9-2024

Barrington vs East Providence at RI Country Club

Barrington finished second to La Salle in the State Championship Tournament last season. 

Lilly Dessel is one of the top women’s golfers in the state and will be a contender for the High School Girls State Championship this season. 

For East Providence, they were just outside of the top ten in scoring average in the state last season and will be looking to make a statement. 

It also doesn’t hurt that the match is at Rhode Island Country Club either.  

5-15-2024 

East Greenwich vs Hendricken vs Toll Gate at Potowomut 

A late season matchup between East Greenwich, Hendricken and Toll Gate that could have State Championship ramifications. 

EG finished in third in the State Championship last year, while Hendricken missed the day two cut. 

Mount St. Charles vs Smithfield vs Cumberland at Country View

A late season battle between these North Division rivals has the potential to have a major impact on who gets to the State Tournament. 

As previously noted, Mount was the only team from the North Division to get to the State Tournament in 2023. 

Cumberland and Smithfield will be looking to take back control of the division this season.