Meet the top 27 high school golfers from the SouthCoast to watch in 2023
Only three of the top seven golfers from the SouthCoast in 2022 are back this fall, but there are still high expectations among the area’s eight golf teams.
Old Rochester will look to reload as it begins its MIAA Div. 2 state title defense and tries for a fourth straight South Coast Conference Blue Division championship.
Bishop Stang is going after its fourth straight Catholic Central League crown as well as another top finish at Div. 2 states after coming in tied for second a year ago to the Bulldogs.
Here’s a look at the top 27 golfers from the area to watch in 2023:
APPONEQUET
The Lakers are young with the return of just four players in sophomore Cam Poirier and seniors Dominick Snyder, David Jope and Logan Froio. “Everybody else on the team, it’s either their first time on the golf course or they didn’t get in a match last year,” said Apponequet first-year head coach Ryan Koczela. “We only have two seniors and two juniors. The rest are sophomores and freshmen.” Koczela still has high hopes of contending for the conference title. “I think we have a chance,” he said. “We have a lot of young talent.” Koczela played golf at Bridgewater-Raynham and Westfield State University. The 25-year-old started teaching math at Apponequet three years ago and volunteered with the school’s golf team the past two years as a volunteer. “Golf is a big thing in my life and my family’s life,” Koczela said. “I thought it would be cool to coach. I just want them to have fun and be a good person. You can learn a lot about life from golf.”
BISHOP STANG
Bishop Stang head coach Tom Kennedy believes the Spartans can make a run for the state title and for good reason. He returns a talented and experienced group led by senior Matt Costello and junior Matt Oliveira, a pair of 2022 Standard-Times Super Teamers. Costello averaged 37 strokes per nine-hole match and was Stang’s lowest medalist in 13 out of 17 matches last year. “He plays all of the time,” said Kennedy, noting that Costello will play golf next year at the University of Connecticut. “He plays all year round. Matt goes to South Carolina and plays down there. He plays in tournaments all over the country and he sees different golf coaches. He really works hard at his game.” Oliveira was named CCL MVP last year, averaging 36.4 strokes over nine holes. “Matt is devoted to the game,” Kennedy said, noting that Oliveira had won two straight Country Club of New Bedford titles in 2022 and 2021 before winning the Allendale Country Club championship this summer. Others who will have an impact are junior Nathaniel Mello and senior Noah Cormier. “The goal is a state championship. That’s the goal,” Kennedy said. “I think we have the players to do it. The key is staying focused; not get too high or too low if you lose a match here and there.”
DARTMOUTH
After finishing second to Bridgewater-Raynham in the Southeast Conference a year ago, Dartmouth will look to contend once again with a senior-heavy team that includes Will Gangi, Mike Correia and Ian Emery — all four-year golfers. Sophomore Tom Morerra is expected to stand out in his second year on the team. “Those four are all very close,” said Dartmouth head coach Mike Frates. “Our goal is to always win our league and make the state tournament and see what we can do. We have a ton of experience coming back. They all got thrown into the fire as freshmen and they’ve been doing this for four years. It’s a good group.”
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FAIRHAVEN
Despite graduating two starters from last year’s team, the Blue Devils will look to make another run at the South Coast Conference Gold Division championship after sharing it with Bourne last year and winning it outright in 2021. “Our goal is to try to win it for a third straight time,” said Fairhaven head coach Kevin Reedy. “We lost two good seniors who were four-year starters, but we do have some young players coming up. This is probably one of the deeper teams I've had in my coaching career.” Fairhaven will be led by senior captain Barrett Becotte, a South Coast Conference and Standard-Times All-Star, who averaged 42 strokes per nine-hole match last year. The Blue Devils will also look to junior Calvin Downing as well as seniors Hugh Boucher and Tyler Vieira. “Those are my four most consistent players,” Reedy said. This season Fairhaven’s home course has changed from Whaling City Golf Course to Rochester Golf Club.
GNB VOC-TECH
With all of their players back from last year, the Bears are determined to be more competitive in their matches with a more experienced squad. Leading the way is senior Savannah Mongie, a three-year captain. “She’s been our team leader for all three years when we were young and underdeveloped,” said GNB Voc-Tech head coach Marcio Santiago. “She’s consistent on and off the course.” Sophomore Owen Webster is back after having the lowest average on the team last year. “Last year we were young as freshman and sophomore heavy," said Santiago, noting the Bears won three matches in 2022. “I think we’ll be more consistent with our experience, but we’ll still be chasing a lot of the big SCC teams.”
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NEW BEDFORD
After a winless campaign in 2022, the Whalers are looking to make strides behind the experience and leadership of senior captain Craig Baptista and junior captain Luke Tarpey. Both are four-year golfers at New Bedford. “Craig has the most experience. He’s a really hard worker and he understands the game very well,” said New Bedford head coach Jason Bennett. “Luke hits the ball pretty far. He’s able to shoot a good number.” An up-and-coming player to watch is sophomore Trevor Roderiques. “The one with the most potential is Trevor,” Bennett said. “He picked up golf as a freshman. He’s going to turn into a very good high school golfer.”
OLD COLONY
A year ago, the Cougars enjoyed a perfect regular season en route to winning the Mayflower Athletic Conference title as well as the Mass State Vocational championship, but graduated six seniors. “They wiped me clean. It’s a rebuilding year,” said Old Colony head coach Kathy Peterson. “We’ll see what happens.” The team’s most experienced returning player is junior Aiden Powers, who will play No. 1. Also look for senior Nate Gamache to move up after playing in the seven and eight spots last year. “It’s going to be a learning curve,” Peterson said. “They don’t have a lot of match experience.”
OLD ROCHESTER
The defending Div. 2 state champion Bulldogs have a ton of holes to fill after graduating five and losing Braden Yeomans, a 2022 Standard-Times Super Teamer, to Tabor Academy. “We’re a very young team,” said Old Rochester head coach Chris Cabe, noting that he has just one senior. “It's a rebuilding year for us, but we’re going to benefit from some young talent.” Junior Peter Le Gassick, a three-year golfer, is back to power ORR. “He’s a steady golfer,” Cabe said. “He’s long off the tee. His weak point is his putting, but he’s working hard on it. He has the ability to shoot around par.” Sophomore Brady Mills averaged a 40 last year. “As a freshman last year, he opened my eyes to what a kid his age could do,” Cabe said. “This year he’s grown and it’s made him stronger and longer off the tee. His overall game has improved tremendously.” Among ORR’s seven freshmen, Luke Pierre and Jack Czerkowicz have been impressive in the early going. “Luke is Markus’ little brother,” Cabe said of Markus Pierre, the 2022 Standard-Times Golfer of the Year. “His knowledge of the game puts him ahead of others. I think he’s going to be a heady golfer.” Cabe on Czerkowicz: “He has a great short game.”
OTHERS TO KEEP AN EYE ON
Delaney McKay, Apponequet, Junior; Bianca Ligotti, Bishop Stang, Junior; Jeremiah Matos, Bishop Stang, Junior; JJ Podkowa, Bishop Stang, Junior; Jack Shea, Bishop Stang, Senior; Michael Zeller, Bishop Stang, Senior; Owen Nielson, Senior, Dartmouth; Brody DaLuz, Fairhaven, Junior; Hugo Surprenant, Fairhaven, Senior; Ryan Vieira, Fairhaven, Sophomore; Ayden Chisholm, GNB Voc-Tech, Junior; Jackson Ruel, GNB Voc-Tech, Junior; Jack DiMatteo, New Bedford, Senior; Luke Ferreira, New Bedford, Senior; Oliver Guilfoyle, New Bedford, Junior; Cameron Molleo, New Bedford, Senior; Kyle Boucher, Old Colony, Freshman; Leah Hollenbeck, Old Colony, Sophomore; Andrew McCeary, Old Colony, Freshman; Nathan Peck, Old Colony, Sophomore; Chad Peters, Old Colony, Sophomore; Todd Soares, Old Colony, Senior; Logan Franco, Old Rochester, Junior; Connor Galligan, Old Rochester, Junior.
This article originally appeared on Standard-Times: 2023 Watch List for top high school golfers on the SouthCoast
