PORTSMOUTH — Portsmouth High School was the far-and-away winner of the East Division golf playoff match held over its home layout of Green Valley Country Club Monday afternoon, May 23, as the host Patriots defeated East Providence and Tiverton to earn a spot in next week’s state team championship event.

Portsmouth finished with a four-player total of 168. Tiverton was next with a 200 and East Providence had a 205.

Joseph Nardolillo shot a nine-hole score of two-over 37 on the par 35 Green Valley front side to pace Portsmouth and card the medalist round of the afternoon.

Kyle Bielawa and Vincent Milici were next in for the Pats as each shot 41. Vernon Belliveau was the final Portsmouth scorer with a 49.

The Patriots finished third in the regular season match standings behind first place Barrington and runner-up Middletown, the Eagles and Islanders earning the automatic berths from the East into the state tournament Tuesday and Wednesday, May 31 and June 1, at Cranston Country Club.

By finishing in the three position, Portsmouth earned the right to host the division playoff match with the fourth, E.P., and fifth, Tiverton, teams in the standings.

Keegan Duttele paced Tiverton with a 47. Zak Almeida shot 48 while Nando D'Eramo and Helena Kesson each shot 52.

Michael Wetmore was low for East Providence, leading the Townies with a four-over 39. Wetmore recovered somewhat from a triple bogey on the 454-yard par 4 second. Zach Mendo was next in for EPHS with a 53 followed by Chris Riel with a 56 and Marcus Bostic with a 57.

Of note, despite his team coming up short, Wetmore qualified to compete in the individual portion of the state tournament by virtue of his season scoring average of 38 in the Townies’ 14 East Division matches.