Golf: Falcons Participate in State Championship at Cranston Country Club

Fifteen schools were represented at Cranston Country Club on May 31st and June 1st for the Division I Golf Championships. The individual state title and team championship would be handed out on day number two. After the first 18 holes of competition on Tuesday afternoon, four teams would advance to the next round and compete for the crown on Wednesday.

Each team had six golfers play 18 holes of golf, and the lowest four scores were added up, being the team score. Out of the 15 schools, the four with the lowest team totals after day number one, would battle it out on day two for the team championship.

In the individual competition, thirty players would compete on Wednesday for the title. The lowest score on Tuesday afternoon and the next 29 players closest to that score, would vie for the championship.

Cranston West fell just short of competing on day two, for the team competition. Their total of 319 was two shots higher than Barrington, who ended up being the final team to advance to day number two.

Portsmouth, Cumberland, North Kingstown and Barrington would be the four teams competing for the title on Wednesday afternoon.

The lowest individual round on Tuesday was an even par 71, by two players. Seamus Fennelly from Coventry and Cumberland's Jamison Randall posted the lowest scores on day one. Two Falcons players, Ryan Gallagher and Corey Patalano qualified for the individual title and would play another round of golf on Wednesday afternoon.

Cumberland was the most consistent team on both days of competition, as they scored a 312 on both days. They won the team title, edging out Portsmouth, who led by five strokes after one round of golf, by four strokes. North Kingstown and Portsmouth finished tied for second, as they finished with a total of 628 for the two rounds. Barrington would finish in fourth place, 12 shots off of the lead.

In the individual competition, Cumberland's Jamison Randall shot a 74 on day two, claiming the top prize with a total score of 145. The Oakers Fennelly was one shot off the pace and finished in second. LaSalle's Juliet Vongphoum claimed third place and two North Kingstown golfers rounded out the top five. Owen Heath and Ryan Southwort finished in fourth and fifth place respectively in the individual competition.

The Falcons Corey Patalano and Ryan Gallagher were not able to shoot in the 70's on day number two. Patalano finished in 24th place and Gallagher came in 25th in the individual competition.

Chris Sullivan, Cranston West head coach, was pleased with his team's play this season and in the two day event. "It was a great day, in the first round, and a great tournament overall," he said.

In the regular season, the Falcons finished at 12-2, their two losses to Bishop Hendricken, each by four strokes. "They are a measuring stick for us," the coach added.

The Falcons finished 17 strokes ahead of the Hawks on day one of the competition, which will help West's returning players. "That is a huge confidence builder for the returning players," Sullivan added, "It is a big momentum builder going into next season."

The coach was pleased with his kid's effort all season long. "I couldn't ask any more of my kids," he said. "My assistant, Joe Salimeno, runs our JV program and does a great job of developing the kids' skills," he added.

Their goal was to shoot under 320, and they managed to pull it off, finishing at 319. They are losing three players due to graduation, but the two players who competed on day number two, both will be on the team next year.