Home » Sports
October 03. 2012 11:41PM
Boys' team golf titles on the line
Three teams will put undefeated records on the line and another will seek a three-peat at the NHIAA state golf championships today.
Windham High School (19-0 Division II), Pelham High School (22-0 Division III) and Derryfield School of Manchester (23-0 Division IV) will seek to extend perfect regular seasons at their respective tournaments, while Keene High School (24-3 Division I) will chase a third consecutive state crown.
The NHIAA will award team titles in all four divisions after 18 holes of stroke play today. The Division I tournament is at Cochecho Country Club in Dover, while Division II plays at Canterbury Woods Country Club. Divisions III and IV will compete at Newport Golf Club.
The low 24 scorers and ties will advance to a second 18 holes on Saturday to determine the individual champion in Division I, with Division II following the same format. Twelve low scorers and ties will advance in Division III, with Division IV following suit.
The Division I tournament figures to be a battle between No. 2 Keene and top-seeded Bedford High School (25-2), a two-time Division II champion (2009-10) that moved up to Division I this season. Keene senior Chelso Barrett, the reigning New Hampshire Golf Association State Junior champion, will lead the Blackbirds while pursuing a third consecutive individual title.
Although Keene lost two seniors from its 2011 championship squad, underclassmen Keeton Foster and Collin Stroshine have led Barrett's supporting cast this season. The Blackbirds' depth was evident in a Sept. 14 match at Campbell's Scottish Highlands in Salem, in which six of the team's eight players scored below 40 for nine holes.
Despite designs on becoming a dynasty, Keene will face a challenge from Bedford. Seniors Ryan Tombs and Dylan Cowette lead the Bulldogs, who upended Keene at Manchester Country Club in the teams' only meeting this season.
Other Division I contenders include Pinkerton (21-5), Bishop Guertin (21-8) and Concord (21-8).
In Division II, Windham posted its second consecutive undefeated regular season and will seek to avenge an upset loss to Hanover High School in last year's state tournament — the teams finished with identical scores, but Hanover prevailed in a tiebreaker. Junior Connor Greenleaf, who qualified for the 2012 U.S. Junior Amateur Championship, leads the Jaguars.
Hanover (18-1), which won last year's tournament as the No. 6 seed, will look to repeat. With seniors Nate Choukas and Benny Hayes anchoring the squad, the Marauders suffered their lone regular-season defeat to Windham. Meanwhile, surprising St. Thomas Aquinas of Dover (18-1) could be a factor.
Former Division II squad Pelham emerged dominant in its first Division III campaign. With junior Jake Vaiknoras and senior Alex Newton leading the way, the Pythons will seek to unseat Mascenic Regional of Ipswich (21-2), which has won four of the last five Division III crowns, including last year's. Bow High School (21-2), another former Division II team, also figures to be in the title mix.
Derryfield will stalk its first state golf title since winning four consecutive Class M-S crowns from 2002-2005. Sophomore Patrick McGinley and juniors Roger Larrivee and Bennett Doherty spearhead the Cougar attack.
Other Division IV contenders include Hopkinton (18-3), defending champion Moultonborough (16-4) and Newport (17-5), which will compete on its home course. Moultonborough senior Hayden Maroun will seek a second consecutive individual title.
Windham High School (19-0 Division II), Pelham High School (22-0 Division III) and Derryfield School of Manchester (23-0 Division IV) will seek to extend perfect regular seasons at their respective tournaments, while Keene High School (24-3 Division I) will chase a third consecutive state crown.
The NHIAA will award team titles in all four divisions after 18 holes of stroke play today. The Division I tournament is at Cochecho Country Club in Dover, while Division II plays at Canterbury Woods Country Club. Divisions III and IV will compete at Newport Golf Club.
The low 24 scorers and ties will advance to a second 18 holes on Saturday to determine the individual champion in Division I, with Division II following the same format. Twelve low scorers and ties will advance in Division III, with Division IV following suit.
The Division I tournament figures to be a battle between No. 2 Keene and top-seeded Bedford High School (25-2), a two-time Division II champion (2009-10) that moved up to Division I this season. Keene senior Chelso Barrett, the reigning New Hampshire Golf Association State Junior champion, will lead the Blackbirds while pursuing a third consecutive individual title.
Although Keene lost two seniors from its 2011 championship squad, underclassmen Keeton Foster and Collin Stroshine have led Barrett's supporting cast this season. The Blackbirds' depth was evident in a Sept. 14 match at Campbell's Scottish Highlands in Salem, in which six of the team's eight players scored below 40 for nine holes.
Despite designs on becoming a dynasty, Keene will face a challenge from Bedford. Seniors Ryan Tombs and Dylan Cowette lead the Bulldogs, who upended Keene at Manchester Country Club in the teams' only meeting this season.
Other Division I contenders include Pinkerton (21-5), Bishop Guertin (21-8) and Concord (21-8).
In Division II, Windham posted its second consecutive undefeated regular season and will seek to avenge an upset loss to Hanover High School in last year's state tournament — the teams finished with identical scores, but Hanover prevailed in a tiebreaker. Junior Connor Greenleaf, who qualified for the 2012 U.S. Junior Amateur Championship, leads the Jaguars.
Hanover (18-1), which won last year's tournament as the No. 6 seed, will look to repeat. With seniors Nate Choukas and Benny Hayes anchoring the squad, the Marauders suffered their lone regular-season defeat to Windham. Meanwhile, surprising St. Thomas Aquinas of Dover (18-1) could be a factor.
Former Division II squad Pelham emerged dominant in its first Division III campaign. With junior Jake Vaiknoras and senior Alex Newton leading the way, the Pythons will seek to unseat Mascenic Regional of Ipswich (21-2), which has won four of the last five Division III crowns, including last year's. Bow High School (21-2), another former Division II team, also figures to be in the title mix.
Derryfield will stalk its first state golf title since winning four consecutive Class M-S crowns from 2002-2005. Sophomore Patrick McGinley and juniors Roger Larrivee and Bennett Doherty spearhead the Cougar attack.
Other Division IV contenders include Hopkinton (18-3), defending champion Moultonborough (16-4) and Newport (17-5), which will compete on its home course. Moultonborough senior Hayden Maroun will seek a second consecutive individual title.
- Hampstead Congregational Church hosts Hunger Action on May 19 - 0
- Chester church plans June Jubilee - 0
- Goffstown church plans yard sale - 0
- Cleric's case a puzzle, concern - 6
- NH minister celebrates 60 years of service - 0
- Religion briefs: Rindge church will hold yard sale - 0
- New pastoral assignments announced - 0
- UUC of Manchester picks McLaughlin - 0
- Orthodox Christians celebrate, reflect - 1
Alabama pastor is adjusting to life at Christian Fellowship Baptist Church in Londonderry
READER COMMENTS: 0- Two sustained minor injuries in Rochester crash Sunday - 0
- Boat crash in Tuftonboro investigated - 0
- Manchester alderman urges review of police phone use - 12
- Updated: Man fatally shot on Manchester street; neighbors shocked - 1
- Nashua mayor to recommend Bennett for corporation counsel - 0
- Claremont group disputes incinerator plant's permit - 0
- Goffstown artisan gives new face to Wolfeboro tower - 0
- Katie McQuaid's Scene in Manchester: Kiwanis and the kids - 0
- Town may have to fix grave error - 2
Firefighters say casino revenue needed for 'public safety'
READER COMMENTS: 2- Which of the following prospective candidates do you think the Red Sox should hire to replace Bobby Valentine as the team's manager?
- Sandy Alomar Jr.
- 2%
- Brad Ausmus
- 2%
- John Farrell
- 15%
- DeMarlo Hale
- 2%
- Torey Lovullo
- 1%
- Dave Martinez
- 2%
- Tony Pena
- 5%
- Ryne Sandberg
- 4%
- Joe Torre
- 25%
- Jason Varitek
- 35%
- Other
- 8%
- Total Votes: 1840




