Burrillville clinches Northern Division title

BURRILLVILLE – With stellar, consistent play from its usual top four linksters, Burrillville High not only swept a pair of Northern Division matches from Mount St. Charles (158-162) and Cumberland (158-165) at Country View Golf Course on Wednesday, but it also clinched the league crown outright.

A scant seven strokes separated the division’s top three squads, leaving MSC veteran head coach Mike Masterson to say, “It was a great high school golf match on all sides; all the kids brought it, and they should be proud of themselves.”

What delivered the Broncos the title: The minuscule amount of separation between the top four’s scores. Junior Brandon Hanaway and Sam Hayden both shot two-over 38, while sophomore Noel Teeter posted a 39 and frosh Jake Trimble a 43.

The Mounties were nearly as close, as junior Alex Niedzwiadek managed a 38, sophomore Ben Ellis a 39, classmate Alex Dumas a 40 and junior Daisy Cao a 45. That final score proved critical, but Masterson indicated Cao had been sick with a 102-degree temperature recently.

“She looked so ragged in school (on Tuesday), I told her not to come to practice but go home and rest up; I told her we were going to need her (Wednesday),” Masterson stated. “She had a 36 on that same course last week, so you knew she wasn’t feeling well. She’s a terrific kid and a terrific golfer.”

Amazingly after all of the superb rounds, CHS linkster Jack Shelvin manufactured a medalist-winning, one-over 37, while Sean Meers shot 39, Derek Rivard 42 and Carlo Lemme 47.

The Clippers closed their campaign at 10-4, but the Mount isn’t quite done yet. Masterson noted his kids will host Lincoln and Ponaganset in a makeup match at this same course today at 2:30 p.m. He said if the Mounties capture both, they would tie Cumberland for second behind Burrillville at 10-4.

As for what that would do for their potential qualifying for the state team tourney, Masterson said the options were too numerous to mention.

Burrillville 158, Mount St. Charles 162, Cumberland 165

Burrillville scores: Brandon Hanaway 38, Sam Hayden 38, Noel Teeter 39, Jake Trimble 43.

Mount St. Charles scores: Alex Niedzwiadek 38, Ben Ellis 39, Alex Dumas 40, Daisy Cao 45.

Cumberland scores: Jack Shelvin 37, Sean Meers 39, Derek Rivard 42, Carlo Lemme 47.

LIONS HEADED FOR PLAYOFFS

GLOCESTER – Lincoln High utilized a pair of 41s from Tim Cullen and Jack Lowrey, not to mention a 42 from Brett Bessette, to coast past Smithfield in a Northern Division dual match at Glocester Country Club on Wednesday afternoon.

Nate Kumar chipped in a 49 to round out the scoring for the Lions, who now will prepare to face rival Mount St. Charles and Ponaganset in its final double-dual meet of the season today at 2:30 at Country View Golf Course in Burrillville.

Tyler Piekarski led the Sentinels with a 42.

Lincoln 173, Smithfield 188

Lincoln scores: Tim Cullen 41, Jack Lowrey 41, Brett Bessette 42, Nate Kumar 49.

Smithfield scores: Tyler Piekarski 42, Nathan Dexter 47, Tyler Varin 48, Devon O’Brien 51.