GolfNewsRI

GolfNewsRI’s coverage of High School Golf is presented by Golf365RI.

GolfNewsRI begins the 2026 high school golf previews in the North Division.  

The division contains Smithfield, Lincoln, Burrillville, St. Raphael, Cumberland, Ponaganset and North Smithfield. 

Last season, Smithfield went undefeated in the regular season to take the division title and earn the automatic bid to the State Championship Tournament. 

This year, the Sentinels will look to get back repeat as divisions champs, while teams like Lincoln, Burrillville, Cumberland and perhaps even St. Rays will hope to take their crown. 

Who will run the North in 2026? 

Smithfield

The Smithfield Sentinels were one of four teams in Rhode Island High School golf to go undefeated (12-0) during the 2025 regular season and claim the division crown. 

With the division title in their pocket, Smithfield earned the automatic bid to the High School State Championship at Cranston Country Club, where they made the day two cut. 

In 2026, they are hoping for similar success. 

“The 2026 Smithfield High School golf team should be competitive again this season. Coach Scott Waterman, a business teacher at Smithfield, has joined the coaching staff this year. The team returns several key players alongside new golfers who should contribute to our success,” said Head Coach Jim Parente. 

Smithfield will be led this year by senior Christian Snowman and junior John Rinaldi. 

Snowman was ranked 13th in the state in 2025 for iWR, and earned second team All-State after finishing seventh overall in the State Championship. 

Rinaldi has finished the 2025 regular season ranked 43rd in the state for iWR and followed that up with a strong showing in the State Championship. 

Coach Parente tells GolfNewsRI that junior Noah Antunes has showed substantial improvement over the summer and should be competing at a high level. 

Antunes was ranked 140th in scoring average last season. 

A key player for Smithfield could be sophomore Anthony Lentini, who finished his freshman season at 79th in iWR rankings and earned a spot at the State Championship. 

Other players to watch for include senior Cody Trost and freshmen Brayden Huoth and Jackson Rotz, all of whom have “shown promise” during practice. 

Will Smithfield go back-to-back? 

Lincoln

Lincoln missed qualifying for the 2025 State Championship by a little less than a iWR point and will look to avenge that this year. 

“The goal is to reach the State Championship this season. We are very junior heavy and have lots of experience. I think next year (2027) we can make a run at the title. I think we have a solid chance,” Lincoln Head Coach Nick Maresca told GolfNewsRI. 

This season, the Lions will be led by senior captain Josh Beregeron and junior captain Luke Cavanaugh. 

“We have a strong team once again, Luke is going to be a leader for us. Josh Bergeron has missed last two seasons due to injury and will be a key contributor,” said Maresca. 

Cavanaugh finished the 2025 season ranked 11th on iWR and had a scoring average of 36.6.  

Maresca notes that juniors Evan Lewis and Sean Carroll will also be key contributors to the season. 

Lewis finished 2025 ranked 185 in iWR, while Carroll finished the season ranked 131st. 

Other players to watch for are the three girls on the team, Isabel Reynolds, Katie Goolgasian and junior captain Samantha Iacobucci. 

“We have 3 females on our team, they all are playing for spots in matches. These girls are shooting anywhere from 45-55 and so they are competing,” said Maresca. 

On Iacobucci, Maresca notes, “Sam’s skill level has improved every year and looking forward to her cracking into a few matches this year.” 

The Lions finished less than a point out of the State Championship tournament last season, and they don’t plan on that happening again. 

Burrilliville

The Burrillville Broncos are looking to build off a solid 2025 season in which they went 7-5 and finished in a tie for third place in the division. 

“Last year is definitely a year we are looking to build off of. We have a strong group of seniors that have a chance to shoot some low numbers this year,” said Head Coach Craig Boucher. 

The Broncos will look to seniors Rodney Frenette, Ethan Withington, Dylan Lafleur and Jack Lamarre to carry the load this season. 

Frenette finished 62nd in the state in iWR in 2025, Withington finished 73rd, Lafleur 75th and Lamarre 110th. 

“If our top 4 players can go out and play well we will be able to compete with anyone in the division this year,” added Boucher.  

The Broncos will also welcome junior Cobi Steere, sophomore Colten Razee and senior Evan Polacek to the squad this year. 

They will be competing for the five and six spots on the team. 

Best of the Rest 

Cumberland

After a down year in 2025, the Clippers will look to get back to competing for a division title this season. 

Cumberland will be led by senior Julia Nault, who last year ranked 10th in the state among girls for iWR and eighth in scoring average. 

Nault should be a factor when it comes to the Girls State Championship.  

The Clippers will also look for seniors Connor O’Brien and Cole Collemer to step up. 

St. Rays

After winning the division two years ago, St. Rays finished in a tie for third with Burrillville last year with a record of 7-5. 

The Saints lost Zach Taraian to graduation, but return a veteran squad led by juniors Anthony Boone and Jack Yucatonis. 

As sophomores, Boone ranked 87th in the state in scoring average (40.8), while Yucatonis had a scoring average of 41.8, which ranked 103rd in the state. 

St. Rays brings in two freshman, and have one sophomore, one senior and eight juniors on the roster so they come into the season battle tested. 

The other teams in the division is Ponaganset and North Smithfield.