The season is over for Scituate boys golf, ending in the MIAA Division II South Sectional Championship at Taunton’s Segregansett Country Club on Oct. 16. The Sailors finished with a 15-3 overall record – 13-3 in the Patriot League and 2-0 in nonconference action – the same as their result last fall.
Scituate had high hopes going into sectionals – for which teams need to attain a record of .500 or above to qualify. It’s also a prerequisite for entry into the state tournament, with the top four programs and 12 individual golfers at sectionals advancing.
The Sailors were one stroke shy of reaching the final stage in Div. II boys golf, finishing fifth overall. Senior captains Luke Ryan and Stephen Marshall led the way in birdies, carding two apiece for Scituate en route to finishes of 82 (+10) and 83 (+11), respectively. Holes four and eight caused trouble for the group, though, as they counted three double bogeys on each.
That proved a crucial difference for the team in a match decided by the slimmest of margins.
“It’s been a very good season. Collectively, everyone has been very consistent,” said coach Will Seward, also a physical education teacher at Scituate High School.
It was Seward’s fifth season spearheading the varsity squad. Under his leadership, the program has secured top honors in the Patriot League five times over.
Although they came up just short of states, Scituate’s skill and success on the course were clearly shown throughout the season. The depth of their roster was a crucial factor.
“We have a very deep team,” said senior Jett Rehm. “If one of us does not perform well, we’ll still have a very good day.”
There were high finishes abound for this squad in 2024, including numerous low medallists. Ryan earned the most medalist honors for the Sailors this season, totaling three.
“There was a lot of practice during the summer, hard work and dedication,” Marshall said.
Lucas Parker, the only freshman on the team, referred to his first year on varsity as a great experience to which everyone contributed. It’s common to have a lot of pressure to perform well as the youngest member, but Parker eventually adjusted and was unfazed.
“First few matches I felt some pressure, but I stayed confident and focused on playing well, eventually boosting my confidence,” Parker said.
Ryan and Rehm were the most consistent this year, while there were strong relationships between the players. Being a close team, Marshall said such camaraderie contributed to their success, helping to loosen tension when it arose against tough competition.
For junior Henry Gack, senior Charlie Ward was a leader who stood out to him.
“(Charlie is) a comedic relief. He always makes everyone smile and have fun,” Gack said.
Looking back on the three losses Scituate suffered this year to Marshfield, Hingham and Duxbury, Seward noted that those teams have traditionally been strong, and that didn’t change this year.
However, those losses didn’t prevent the Sailors from becoming champions of the Patriot League’s Fisher Division for the sixth consecutive year.
Nate Kelly, assistant golf professional at Scituate’s Widow’s Walk Golf Course, spoke on Scituate’s performance this year. He saw the team’s season transpire, with Widow’s Walk having served as the home course of the Sailors for years now.
“The skill coming from the senior leaders was incredible. Having a freshman break 40 and a sophomore shooting even par…that’s exciting to look out for,” Kelly said. “On top of that, Henry, Jett, Luke, Stephen – I don’t want to play those guys on any given day.”
Nonetheless, next year raises some questions. With seven seniors graduating, the Sailors will have a roster mostly consisting of newcomers, but seeing the underclassmen perform exceptionally well this season shows promise for the future.
“I’m very much looking forward to seeing how the JV guys step up and take those varsity spots,” Gack said.
We’ll see if the Sailors can keep it rolling next year.