Season Recap: Golf

Season Recap: Golf

The NHIAA D1 Individual state tournament is the final piece of the high school golf season. In order to qualify for this event, you have to shoot well enough in the team state tournament. There is a cut line, in which the players inside of the cut line qualify, and the players outside do not make it. The two senior captains Brady Smith and Jascha Johnston had the top 2 scores from Exeter. Smith, a three year varsity player, and great fit for team captain, unfortunately missed the cut line by just one stroke. Johnston, a four year varsity player, and super consistent golfer, shot well enough to qualify. The tournament was held at Beaver Meadow Golf Course in Concord. Johnston’s performance could be described in one word: Domination. Johnston flew through the tournament grossing a score of -5, and netting a score of +1. It almost seemed like he was destined to win, and when asked if there was increased pressure on this season, Johnston said, “I wanted to finish my high school year on a strong note. This season meant a lot to me because it was my last year playing for my high school.” (3) Now that his high school career has come to a close Johnston reflects on the competitiveness of high school golf, he states, “Golf in a competitive nature puts pressure on the round. It makes it so that each shot counts.” Now that Johnston’s high school career has come to a close, he looks back on the valuable lessons he has learned throughout his years in competitive golf.  

Exeter had a successful season, winning several matches. They defeated Londonderry, Bishop Guertin, and Salem with a score of 195 in their home opener at Exeter Country Club on September 5th, earning them 3 wins out of the gate. In their next match at Concord Country Club, on September 9th, they continued to shoot well, defeating Concord, Pinkerton, and Merrimack. This improved their record to 6-0, while setting a new team low of 192. This match was a key victory for the Bluehawks. Going into a difficult course like Concord Country Club, the Hawks displayed one of, if not their best golf of the season. Beating Concord early on was not only a big momentum boost, but also proved to the rest of the state that Exeter was legit. (2) The squad then defeated Hanover despite picking up a tough defeat to the then undefeated Dover at Cochecho Country Club, on September 10th, and thus moving to 7-1. Looking to bounce back Exeter fired a 198 at home, on September 12, against Manchester Memorial and Bedford. The score defeated Memorial but lost to Bedford, moving the record to 8-2. Along with a few close losses and challenging victories, their season saw tight matches versus Salem and Spaulding. Ultimately leaving them with a record of 18-5 heading into their last match at home on October 9th. Although Exeter was defeated by Bedford and Salem in the final match, they performed well and showed perseverance overall, with outstanding individual and team efforts from everyone. 

After an underwhelming performance by Exeter Golf in the 2024 D1 State Tournament, Exeter proves that their season wasn’t truly defined by this moment. Exeter Varsity golf endured through whipping winds and extremely cold temperatures throughout the 18 hole tournament. On October 15th, Exeter Varsity made the trip up north to Canterbury Wood, which is not an easy course in the slightest. With its slopey hills and tricky greens, it requires a lot of skill to shoot well on the course. Almost every player on Exeter would probably want to go back and play their round again, as the team finished 7th out of 8 teams in the state. (4) However, the team upheld a winning record picking up nineteen wins along with seven loses. The losses were few and far between, losing to Salem and Bedford twice, and losing once to Dover, Pinkerton, and Windham. Overall, a lack-luster performance in the state tournament does not taint Exeter’s great regular season.

Going forward, the Exeter Varsity team is going to move forward and continue to compete in Division one golf. Sophomore, Nolan Engler, is already taking on a huge part in the team, playing in the team’s fifth seed. But now that the season is over, Engler aims to get even better in the offseason, and become one of the best players on the varsity team. When asked about his offseason practices, Engler said, “After this year I learned a lot about my game. Throughout the season I was pretty good off the tee but hitting greens and my short game was what killed me. This offseason I will work on short putts around 3 to 5 that are must make for par saves. I will also work on my touch around the greens.” (3) Other notable rising seniors such as Burke Degen, Braeden Gwinn, and Matt Foote aim to make big waves in the golf team next year. 

Another critical piece to this upcoming season is replacing the loss of captain, Jascha Johnston. Engler stated, “Next year we will have to make changes to how we play and carry ourselves on and off the course as we lost our captain Jascha Johnston who was the number one player in the state. I believe we can stay in the top 5 throughout the regular season and make a run at the state championship next year. In order to do so I think we need to all play solid consistent golf to replace the loss of Johnston.” It is always tough to come back from an unexpected finish in the state tournament. How much pressure does Engler, along with the rest of the team, feel to bounce back and prove that they are better than last year’s playoff performance? “Honestly I don’t feel any pressure going into next year as we placed worse than we would hope to this year. I believe there are no expectations and me along with the rest of the team can play relaxed golf and try and card the best score we can,” Engler said. No expectations is a perfect way to describe how the team should feel next season. Exeter Varsity Golf wrapped up a very challenging and testing season, with an unfortunate team loss, but also a heroic individual triumph.