Update post publication:
Sept. 7 match vs. Essex Tech PPD
By STEPHEN MARTELLUCCI
LYNNFIELD — Last season was a solid one for the Lynnfield High golf team. The Pioneers finished at 9-5 overall and in the Cape Ann League. They came in third place in the CAL Kinney Division behind Triton and Newburyport.
In the Division 3 North Sectionals at Black Swan Country Club in Georgetown, the Pioneers finished in sixth place out of 12 schools with a total score of 349.
This fall, the expectations are high for head coach Mike Moresco’s squad as there were no seniors on the roster last year. Everybody from that team returned.
Leading the team this year is senior co-captain Deven Henehan who was a CAL First-Team All-Star last season.
Gavin Leuci is the team’s other co-captain and he is also a senior.
The other 12th-graders back are Owen Mullin, Joe Raffa, Niko Kozakis, Zach Benedetto, Ryan MacEachern and Jarrett Scoppettuolo.
The juniors returning are Paul Daley, Brady Field, Owen Doherty, Brady Field and Drew Orlofski.
“This is the most competitive preseason we have had,” said Moresco, who is in his sixth year at the helm. “I am going to have trouble finding time for everybody.”
There were 23 players who tried out and 10 or 11 of them will be on the junior-varsity team.
Lynnfield will play 12 matches this fall and they stated the season early as they beat host Amesbury, 167-70, at Amesbury Country Club on Aug. 29.
“They got to play the day before school started,” pointed out Moresco.
Dailey led the team with 32 points while Raffa was right behind him with 31. 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.
All eight players scores are added and the team with the most points wins.
The next match for the Pioneers is on Thursday (Sept. 7) at they host Essex Tech at Sagamore Spring at 3:20 p.m. in the home opener.
Lynnfield’s third match is back on the road as they take on Rockport at Rockport Country Club at 3:30 p.m. on Sept. 11.
The next day, the Pioneers host Newburyport at 3 p.m.
“Newburyport and Rockport will be the teams to beat this year,” said Moresco.