St. Paul’s and Boys’ Latin claim MIAA team golf championships

The MIAA conducted its team golf championships in the A and B Conferences, Saturday at Mountain Branch Golf Course in Harford County. Despite light rain and soggy fairways, the action went forward as St. Paul’s topped Calvert Hall in the A Conference and Boys’ Latin rolled past Archbishop Curley in the B Conference.

After splitting two matches during the regular season, St. Paul’s (11-2-1) established an early lead on Calvert Hall (11-4) and prevailed, 14.5-6.5. It was third championship in the last four years for the Crusaders and their MIAA best 12th. St. Paul's also won the first two MIAA B Conference golf titles (1996 and 1997) to give the Crusaders 14 crowns total.

St. Paul’s got a big effort from its top group of No. 1 Tommy Sharps and No. 2 Oliver Clark, which went against Calvert Hall’s top duo of Caleb Itzoe and Ryan Hoffner. Sharps won 2.5 points and Clark took all three. Sharps and Clark also got the team point.

In the second pairing, the result was similar. No. 3 Matthew Guy won all three points against Calvert Hall’s Felix Endler and No. 4 Adler Dodson took 2.5 points from the Cardinals’ Sam Telljohn. Again, this Crusader duo collected the team point.

Calvert Hall collected 5.5 points in the third pairing, including the team point, as Ryan Henneman downed Matthew Sola, 2.5-.5 and Clayton Wright edged Any Dripps, 2-1.

"Credit to them, they played well," said Calvert Hall coach Drew Forrester. "We were definitely a little off for whatever reason. Last year when we beat them in the final all the big moments went our way. Today, all the big moments went their way. We had a great season. But it just wasn't our day today."

The 2024 St. Paul's golf team, lead by head coach Mike O'Neil (on the ground in front) won the program's league best 12th MIAA A Conference team golf championship, Saturday at Mountain Branch Golf Course in Harford County with a victory over Calvert Hall.

The B Conference also featured two teams which had split their regular season meetings but in the championship match, Boys’ Latin dominated Archbishop Curley, 17-4. It was the second straight league title for the Lakers (11-1) and their sixth overall. Curley (8-5-1) was appearing in the league final for the first time.

BL freshman Harrison Roberts and senior Robert Ward swept the first foursome getting all seven points and finishing on the eigth hole. They topped the Friars top two players, Gavin Barton and Joey Yakim.

In the second group, senior Jake DiBari got one point winning the front five against Curley’s Anthony Fort, while senior Bennett English closed Jon Denholm out on the ninth hole, sweeping all three points. They Lakers also won the team point in the second grouping. 

In the last group, BL sophomore Lucas Erdman swept all three points from Drew Phelan in the 5th position, while Senior Trace Davanzo got a half point against Ryan Trimble in the sixth position. Boys’ Latin also won the team point, 1up. 

“I’m incredibly proud of this team, including all 11 players and the rest of the coaching staff,” said Boys’ Latin coach Geoff Lindsay. “Our lineups throughout the year consisted of rookies and veterans but at the end of the day, everyone came together and did what was best for the team.

“It’s been an honor to coach this team the last three years, after playing golf at BL, and I look forward to seeing this program grow in the years to come.”

Lindsay also praised Curley. 

“I’d like to also congratulate Coach Mark Johnson and the entire Curley program for an incredible season,” added Lindsay. “We’ve had some great battles the last two seasons and we were just fortunate to come away with the W today.”

Boys' Latin's top pairing of freshman Harrison Roberts (left, putting) and senior Robert Ward swept all seven points in the opening match of the MIAA B Conference Golf Championship, Sunday at Mountain Branch, propelling the Lakers to 17-4 victory over Archbishop Curley.