CLAREMONT — After matching the program’s best finish at an NHIAA state tournament by placing second last October, the Stevens High golf team entered the new season with high expectations. The Cardinals got the campaign going by splitting a three-school match with Hopkinton and John Stark at Claremont Country Club on Wednesday.
Using a modified Stableford scoring system awarding points on each hole rather than strokes relative to par, Hopkinton posted 64 points to top the Cards (58) and Generals (51). Kody Dexter scored a medal-winning 20 points for Hopkinton.
Returnees Reeve Wilkinson (18) and CJ Naugler (16) led the way for Stevens. Newcomer Ian Gersberg had a solid debut with 13 points, and another veteran player, Cedric Allen, completed the scoring with 11.
Wilkinson shared second place individually with two other players, and Naugler took fifth. Stevens joins Campbell in a visit to Conant at the Shattuck in Jaffrey, N.H., on Tuesday.
PENACOOK, N.H. — With all five scoring boys in the top 10 and scoring girls filling five of the 11 highest positions, Hanover claimed a five-school meet at Merrimack Valley.
Hanover’s Mack Levy (18:17) and Spancer May (18:20) followed Plymouth’s Nathaniel Gervais (17:52) across the line in the boys race. Bow runners finished 4-5-6-8-13, but Hanover’s 7-9-10 counter of Will Parker (19:11), Luke Holms (19:17) and Caleb Zuckerman (19:18) won the day by five points.
The Lebanon boys were third as a team with 73 points. Carlos Kennelly (19:47), Carson Jones (19:48) and Sam Shipman (20:22) were 11-12-14 to lead the Raiders.
Hanover’s girls had a tighter margin of victory over Bow, winning by just two points. Mia Dube (20:04) won the race for the Falcons. Hanover’s Sarah Glueck (22:20) led a 3-8-9-10-11 response, joined by Lauren Eiler (23:48), Charlotte Tagupa (23:49), Wyethe Murray (24:03) and Lia Naughton (24:19)
Lebanon didn’t have enough runners to post a team score. Zoe Chinn (23:28) was sixth and Ella Gessner (25:10) took 13th for the Raiders.
Boys team scores: Hanover 31, Bow 36, Lebanon 73, Merrimack Valley 114, Plymouth 124.
Girls team scores: Hanover 41, Bow 43, Merrimack Valley 70, Plymouth 116, Lebanon NS.