It was a slightly disappointing start to a condensed 2024 regular season home schedule for the East Providence High School golf team as the Townies welcomed Mt. Hope to the Agawam Hunt Club in Rumford for a one-on-one Eastern Division match in the best weather to date this spring Monday afternoon, April 29.

With temperatures hovering near 70 degrees with little wind and Agawam growing into fine condition, East Providence and head coach Bill McEnery were hoping to continue its early run of scores in the 160s. Monday, however, many of the Townies struggled off the tee and their final tallies showed it with a 180. The visiting Huskies carded a 187.

Only sophomore Nathan Carter broke 40, shooting a 4-over 39 on the front nine. Noah Araujo was next in for the Townies with a 43 followed by Billy Fitzgerald at 45. Nathan Tavares and Matt Lalanne each shot 53 to share the final counting score for EP. Zach Mendo's 56 was discarded. Ben Peters was low man for Mt. Hope, shooting a 43.

The Townies improved to 5-0 at the time in matches, but, again, record does not impact how a team or individuals qualify for the state tournament at the end of May. It's the regular season scoring average for each. Ten teams will earn berths to states. The 10th team to qualify last spring, the first to be played using this qualifying system, had a 167 average.

After carding scores of 161 and 166 on the road at Montaup and Wanumetonomy CCs in their first two matches of 2024 last week, the Townies' saw their team average move to 169 with their tally Monday.

"If we were 5-0 or shot 180 three years ago I would have been ecstatic, but that's not the case any more," EPHS head coach Bill McEnery said, referring to the current state qualifying method. "You'd think we'd play well at the place we know well and where we practice every day, but that didn't happen. But that's golf. Hopefully we rebound against Barrington in our next match and shoot in the 160s."

The Townies host their second of three matches Wednesday afternoon, May 1, when they host traditional power and the state's all-time winningest program Barrington as well as Rogers at Agawam. EP's only other home match takes place Monday, May 6, against Middletown and Portsmouth. Both contests tee off at 3 p.m.