By HockomockSports.com Staff

2019 Hockomock Golf Preview

Attleboro

2018 Record: 3-12
2018 Hock Championships: 10th Place
Coach: Jon Burre
The Bombardiers bring back four players from last year’s team and have a unique home course advantage at Stone-E-Lea that gives Attleboro confidence that it can make a move up the Kelley-Rex division standings and challenge for a tournament spot.

Senior Jack Handy will be the team leader, providing guidance for the younger players. Fellow senior Ben Wood is a steadying influence and classmate Brian Houle is a consistent player that the team can rely on. Sophomore Brendan Raymond is also back after a solid rookie season and has improved his short game from last year. New to the team this season are senior Joseph Castelli and sophomore Parker Sackett, who is still showing the same consistency but with the potential to shoot lower scores this year.

Attleboro coach Jon Burre said, “One strength as a team is that we play really well at our home course which is unique in that it’s a very get-able course if you know what to hit and where to hit it. Another strength for us is our positive attitude and commitment to the game and our community.”

Canton

2018 Record: 11-2 (Davenport Division Champions)
2018 Hock Championships: 6th Place
Coach: Mike Barucci
The Bulldogs have won back-to-back Davenport division titles, their first league titles since 2002, and Canton has the potential to make it a three-peat thanks to a number of returning players and overall depth.

Senior Chris Lavoie will start the season as the team’s No. 1. He is a three-year player coming off a medalist round at the South sectional in 2018. Junior Thomas Singleton is also a three-year player for the Bulldogs and will take one of the top pairings. The sophomore class will provide the depth for the roster, many of them returning after strong rookie seasons. Mike Leonetti, Will Gefteas, and Conor Hunter are all back and their experience as freshmen will make them valuable on the less familiar road courses. Sophomores Nate MacDonald and Andrew Middleton could crack the top eight and junior Owen Donovan has shown great improvement and should see playing time this fall.

“We have a tough start to the season with four of our first five matches on the road, but with five of our eight starters returning from last season we should have the experience to compete at any course,” said Canton coach Mike Barucci.

Foxboro

2018 Record: 7-9
2018 Hock Championships: 4th Place
Coach: Jared Tise
Foxboro narrowly missed out on the postseason last year, but the Warriors bring back and experienced corps and a group of promising younger players that are determined to get into the state tournament picture this fall.

Seniors Noah Hicks and Matt Lathrop will be the team leaders and both are captains for the second year in a row. Hicks keeps the ball in play off the tee and with his irons, allowing him to score low, while Lathrop is great around the green and both with be looking to average sub-40 this season. Junior Dylan Quinn will be the No. 3 player for Foxboro and has the experience to help the promising underclassmen. Junior Luke Davies has shown the potential to be a top-five player this season and sophomore Jack Rounds is making the switch from the gridiron to the links but already looks capable of making an impact for the Warriors.

“As a team, this is the most depth I have had in my five years of coaching,” said Foxboro coach Jared Tise. “They have worked hard over the summer and it has showed in tryouts and the first few practices. We play a very difficult course which works in our favor and most of our team has worked hard on their course management to play it the right way especially in matches.”

Franklin

2018 Record: 13-5 (Kelley-Rex Division Champions)
2018 Hock Championships: 3rd Place
Coach: Dustin Piccolo
Franklin shared the league title with Oliver Ames last season, earning its first title since 2013 and ending the Tigers’ run of two straight outright Kelley-Rex division crowns. The Panthers are counting on a deep lineup and the development of talented young players to challenge for a second straight championship.

League MVP Matt D’Errico has graduated but there is still a lot of experienced players to count on for the title defense. Junior Jack Peterson averaged a 42 last season as a sophomore and could go even lower this fall, while senior Jake Blaney will give the young roster leadership at the top. Senior Quinten Faro posted a 43 last year after making the cross-country switch from Northern California to Franklin and junior Nolan Norton will be expected to contribute as the Panthers go in search of another title. Sophomore Caroline Woelfel could be poised for a breakout season after featuring in five matches as a freshman.

“In addition to most of our core returning next year, we are excited about the prospects of our practice group from last year,” said Franklin coach Dustin Picillo. “After splitting the Kelley Rex Division we are hopeful that we can put in a solid title defense.”

King Philip

2018 Record: 9-5
2018 Hock Championships: 11th Place
Coach: Myles McHugh
The Warriors have strength in numbers, with 18 players on the roster for the season, and they showed that there is plenty of potential in the side with a season-opening win over an Oliver Ames side that has won six straight league titles.

Seniors Jack Hastry, Kayla Schuberth, Ray Mullin, and Nate Ihley will be the team leaders, providing the necessary guidance and consistency to keep the underclassmen heading in the right direction. Sophomores Mike Matheson, Jarred Curran and Patrick Reardon are all expected to play big roles this season and juniors Kevin Birenbaum and Aidan Gillis will be keeping the pressure on the top eight. Newcomers Timmy Hartwell and Gavin Croke are also going to be in the mix as the Warriors go in search of a first league title since 2011.

“The Hock is a very competitive league so wins won’t come easy, however, this team has depth,” said KP coach Myles McHugh. “At any given match there are seven players that can be the top four scorers and when going to the fifth card, I think we have the advantage. The team and its captains have high hopes and expectations for the season.

Mansfield

2018 Record: 9-7
2018 Hock Championships: 1st Place
Coach: Chris Hall
Mansfield finished two games back of league leaders Oliver Ames and Franklin last year, but the Hornets have their sights set on getting back to the top of the Kelley-Rex division standings this fall thanks to a deep group of experienced golfers.

Seniors Will Stratton and Michael O’Neil will set the tone for the team and lead a very talented group of juniors, including Jason See, Nate Morreale, and Ryan Dow, who combined to win the league championship meet last year. Morreale had the medalist round at that meet. Junior Brian See is also returning this fall. He led the team in scoring average his freshman year but was sidelined all of last year with a back injury. Juniors Ava Haggis and Joe Gormley can add a spark for the Hornets after two years of contributing low scores.

“The Hornets thrive off competition and bring high intensity to every match and practice,” said Mansfield coach Chris Hall, whose team opened the season with a win against defending league champ Franklin. “This group truly embraces their role on the team and push each other to improve every day.”

Milford

2018 Record: 4-12
2018 Hock Championships: 7th Place
Coach: Jason Potty

Milford head coach Jason Potty will be looking for some new faces to step up into the starting lineup this season.

The Hawks lost the majority of their scorers from last season so Potty will lean heavily on senior captains Ed Madden and Nick Wemette to lead the way. Madden is the most experienced of the group, factoring into the scoring last year more than any other returning Hawk. Tyler Weatherbee and Jason Luchini, both seniors, also saw time in matches last season and will be important pieces of the puzzle for Milford this season. Sophomore Ronan Fleming has had an impressive preseason so far and should be competing for time in the starting lineup.

“We lost some good golfers from last season and we have a lot of new faces that haven’t seen any of the away courses, which makes it tough,” Potty said. “The kids are doing the best they can and we’re going to figure it out as we go this season.”

North Attleboro

2018 Record: 10-6
2018 Hock Championships: 5th Place
Coach: Steve Nelson
The Rocketeers have eight golfers, including four regular starters coming back from last year’s team that reached the postseason and finished a couple of games behind league champion Canton. This year Big Red will be aiming for a Davenport crown.

Seniors Jillian Barend, Justin Strom, Brett Dusel, and junior Aidan Weir are the four returning starters for North. Barend played in and had her score used in all 16 matches last season and she was the medalist at a match six times. Weir also played all 16 matches last year as a sophomore and that experience will be important this fall. Junior Sam Gallagher and freshman Jake Gaskin are likely to add to the starters in most matches and there is stiff competition to get into the final two spots.

“I expect the team to be very competitive in the Davenport Division of the Hockomock League,” said North coach Steve Nelson.

Oliver Ames

2018 Record: 13-2 (Kelley-Rex Division Champions)
2018 Hock Championships: 2nd Place
Coach: Ryan Riley
Expectations are always high at Easton Country Club, as the Tigers come into 2019 on the back of seven straight league titles, including four in the Davenport and the last three in the Kelley-Rex. Despite a season-opening loss to King Philip and the loss of six seniors from last year’s squad, Oliver Ames is still among the favorites for another league crown.

Senior captains Tate Hadges and Brad Powers are the two key returning golfers for the Tigers. Hadges competed in match play in the women’s amateur and recently won the Tarlow Invitational and that competitive golf experience will be crucial for winning the league. Powers is a steady golfer who limits mistakes and puts the pressure on his opponents. Senior Justin Shapiro and sophomore Jo Jo Gaultier should also step in this year to help add depth to the lineup.

“Oliver Ames is looking to utilize its depth in 2019,” said OA coach Ryan Riley. ”I expect 12-plus members to get an opportunity to play in varsity matches.”

Sharon

2018 Record: 10-3
2018 Hock Championships: 8th Place
Coach: Thor Van Vaerenewyck
Four starters are back for Sharon this season trying to help the Eagles claim their first league title since 2012. Sharon finished just one game back of Canton in last year’s Davenport title race and the year of experience will be invaluable to try and overcome the Bulldogs this fall.

Senior Andrew Glaser, junior Ethan Skelly, and sophomores Nathan Daley and Eric Carter are the four returning players who will be asked to carry a heavy load for the Eagles this season. Skelly was the team’s low scorer last year, averaging a 37, and he finished tied for 10th in the Div. 2 state tournament. Daley and Carter played in the majority of the matches last year as freshmen and that experience has helped them develop their games and made them invaluable pieces to this year’s lineup.

Stoughton

2018 Record: 0-16
2018 Hock Championships: 12th Place
Coach: Brett Boyd
It was a tough 2018 season for the Black Knights, but with four returning starters and no seniors, Stoughton is looking at a potentially brighter future.

Juniors Max Huminik and Jake Curtis will be the captains this year and both have been regulars on the team for the past two seasons. Huminik will be the team’s No. 1 and is expected to be a leader on and off the course. Sophomore Patrick Smith and Anthony Hearn are both back after contributing as freshmen and they have exciting potential that was shown during the summer months. Freshman Joseph Rush and junior Jonah Hochberg also have the potential of mixing into the lineup this season.

Stoughton coach Brett Boyd said, “With this young nucleus of players, I am really looking forward to what we can produce over the next couple of years!”

Taunton

2018 Record: 6-11
2018 Hock Championships: 9th Place
Coach: Brad Koneski
The Tigers struggled for consistency at times last year, winning just two of its games against fellow Kelley-Rex division teams, but there is potential in the lineup, including the four returning players.

Senior Sean Bunker will provide the leadership for a relatively young crew. Juniors Kyle Robinson and Spencer Andrews will be important contributors entering the season and sophomore Loran Corcoran is coming off a solid rookie campaign and will be expected to add depth to the squad. Taunton will be hoping this combination can get right into the swing of things against the ultra-competitive division foes that it will see all season.

“We are hoping to improve on our play from last year, and stay competitive in our matches,” said Taunton coach Brad Koneski.