The Barrington High School golf team has enjoyed a strong start to the season. 

The Eagles opened league matches with a 7-0 record and have placed in the top-10 in a handful of tournaments. 

In the Challenge Cup match in mid-April, Barrington’s Gold Team tied for sixth place. Adam Gorman, a senior captain for the Eagles, led the team with scores of 76 and 80, while Lily Dessel and Claire McTaggart finished fourth and fifth individually for girls. McTaggart fired an 80 and an 83, while Dessel finished with an 82 and an 83. 

A week after the Challenge Cup, Barrington played in the McCampbell Cup and finished second overall. The Eagles lost to LaSalle in a playoff. Barrington had a team score of 311 — Gorman finished with a team-low score of 75, followed by Nolan Leonard and Greg Fitta, who each scored 78, and Dessel, who finished with an 80. 

“We didn't get to lift the trophy, but we played extremely well and bounced back after the Challenge Cup,” said BHS Coach Coale Kazounis. “Our performance at the McCampbell Cup reminded us what we are capable of as a team and that we are competitive against the best schools in the state.”

Barrington finished tied for seventh in the Hendricken Invitational earlier this month. The Eagles were tied for third against Rhode Island schools. Kazounis said the highlight of the tournament was watching Dessel capture first place for the girls. She finished with a 71 and defeated Adriana Eaton by three strokes. 

“She was in full control of her game and I was impressed with her composure,” Kazounis said. “Her scorecard was clean with no double bogies or worse and made three birdies, one of them on her last hole, making a long 40-footer to seal the victory. Super proud of this accomplishment!”

McTaggart finished the Hendricken Invitational with a score of 79, while Gorman had an 83 and Leonard finished with an 84. 

Kazounis said the goal for the BHS goal team this season is to play well and achieve the same level of success as last year’s team, which finished second in the Challenge Cup, Hendricken Invitational and at the state tournament.

“Although I lost several starters from last year, our team this year is capable of remaining as one of the top teams in the state,” Kazounis said. “And we have proved in our matches/tournament scores so far this season, especially McCampbell Cup, that our goals are very attainable. Barrington will continue to play to the level we are known for if we remain positive, focused, and prepared in these last few weeks of the season.”

Kazounis said Barrington has youth on its side this season, which more underclassmen than upperclassmen. 

“I have lots of players with little match/tournament experience, so we are even more focused on development and growth in comparison to last season,” Kazounis said. “It is a very talented group of players athletically, it's just a matter of translating it to the golf course. So our main areas for improvement are course management, mental strength, and consistency. My core players have no issues with ball striking, we just need to pick the right shots, manage our misses, and stay positive mentally. Which will all come from more experience and a willingness and drive to improve. Which undoubtedly, all of my players have.”