Update post publication: North Reading defeats Pentucket 132-89 (Sept. 7)
By STEPHEN MARTELLUCCI
NORTH READING — Last fall, the North Reading High golf team struggled going 4-11 overall and 4-10 in the Cape Ann League. They finished in fourth place in the CAL Kinney Division.
Seven seniors from that team graduated as 14th-year head coach Brian McAuliffe had five members return including four starters.
The two senior captains are Isabel Brozena and Andrew Mountain. Brozena is the team’s top-slotted player while Mountain is slotted eighth.
The three other starters back are junior Jason Curran (second), sophomore Leo Romanski (third) and junior Liam Blanchette (fourth).
Brozena, who will be playing in college at Division 1 Xavier University next year and Curran, were the two Cape Ann League All-Stars last year.
“Isabel plays from the white tees like everybody else,” pointed out McAuliffe, who is a Business teacher at North Reading High.
In a scheduling quirk, the Hornets have already played three matches even before school started on Sept. 6.
Things have gone great so far as the team improved to 3-0 on Sept. 5 as they beat Manchester-Essex, 145-121, at Essex Country Club on a hot, humid day.
The CAL uses the Stableford scoring system. Players get six points for a birdie, four for a par, two for a bogey and one for a double bogey
Brozena led the Hornets with 36 points shooting even par. Romanski was second with 26 points.
“Only three of our players have played there before so this was a good win,” said McAuliffe, as Essex is a private course. “Everybody contributed.”
In the second match of the year on Aug. 31, the Hornets beat host Amesbury, 131-74, at Amesbury County Club.
“Amesbury is in rebuilding mode,” said McAuliffe.
Brozena led the squad in points again with 32 while Romanski was second with 22.
North Reading opened the 2023 campaign on Aug. 29 as they defeated Georgetown, 155-130, at Black Swan Country Club.
Romanski was the team leader in points in this one as he had 36. Curran had 33 while Brozena was third with 28.
Newburyport, Lynnfield and Rockport will be the teams to beat in the league this year according to McAuliffe.
The home opener for the Hornets will be on Sept. 7 as they face Pentucket at Hillview County Club. They then welcome Triton, the defending CAL Kinney Division champions, on Sept. 12.
Both of those matches will start at 3:30 p.m.
North Reading will be playing 14 matches this season and the Cape Ann League Open will be at Far Corner in West Boxford in October.