Who are the top returning high school golfers in RI? Here's our 2024 watchlist
The Rhode Island high school golf season ends quicker than it starts.
With state championships at the end of May, I know it just started getting warm, these standout golfers have four weeks to ready themselves for the state’s biggest stage. The tournament is tentatively slated for May 28 and 29 at Cranston Country Club.
Our top returners — five girls and five boys — were compiled with last year’s individual results in mind. The list includes last year’s girls champion and two previous crown holders looking to reclaim lost bragging rights. And a host of competitors are here aiming to etch their names in the history books.
Now onto the top returning high school golf stars …
Enjoy!
BOYS
Brayden Dickinson, North Kingstown
Dickinson landed just outside of the Top 5 last year (149). His Round 1 72 was among the top scores to open the tournament. The Skipper could be one of the top returners aiming to crack the first five finishers.
Nicholas Emery, St. Raphael
Emery finished 11th with a 152 and his best round (72) broke a three-way tie for the spot. The Saint could be in for a big spring this year and is one to watch to make a jump.
Gianni Fontenault, Hendricken
The senior’s overall score of 152 was highlighted by a 74 on Day 2 of the tournament last year. The Hawk landed on the Providence Journal all-state second team and could make a jump this spring.
Sam Fuentes, Coventry
Fuentes raced out to a great start at last year’s tournament with a 1-under par 70 that had him tied for first. He finished the tournament knotted for third (146) and became the first Oaker to earn first-team All-State honors since 2011.
Max Jackson, La Salle
Jackson’s bid for four straight individual titles was dashed last year, but the Rutgers commit surged to the Rhode Island Junior Amateur Golf Championship in the summer. His potential return to the top of Rhode Island’s high school ranks this spring will be a must-watch.
Related: La Salle's golf stars took lessons from losing, set sights on another state crown
GIRLS
Ava Andoscia, Prout
A sixth-place finish at Cranston Country Club last year earned Andoscia a spot on the Providence Journal All-State team in her first season. The Crusader shot an 85 to make the cut on Day 1 and followed with an 86 for an impressive showing.
Lily Dessel, Barrington
Dessel added to her already impressive career with a third-place finish last year (77-78 — 155). The Eagles standout placed second as a freshman, making this third season an exciting spring for Dessel.
Adriana Eaton, Moses Brown
The returning individual champion seized the title with an overall score of 150. On Day 1 of the tournament, Eaton tallied seven birdies to overcome a quadruple bogey for a 73-opening score. Eaton also won the New England Junior Amateur girls team crown with a trio that included her sister, Kylie, and La Salle's Olivia Williams.
Related: With some encouragement from her sister, Moses Brown's Adriana Eaton wins girls golf title
Claire McTaggart, Barrington
Another Barrington standout makes our Top 5 after McTaggart’s fifth-place showing (167) in her first year at the state tournament. The sophomore shot a 78 in Round 1 to make the cut and joined the Providence Journal All-State team in her first campaign.
Olivia Williams, La Salle
Williams won the 2022 individual title and finished runner-up last spring with a stunning 72 on Day 2 for the tournament low. The Rams star returned with a vengeance in the summer and won the Junior Amateur crown at Ledgemont and then the Women’s Amateur title at Kirkbrae. She was the first female to win both events.
jrousseau@providencejournal.com
On X: @ByJacobRousseau
This article originally appeared on The Providence Journal: The top returning high school golfers? Our 2024 watchlist
