PORTSMOUTH — The East Providence High School golf team last week completed its most successful season record-wise in two decades when the Townies traveled to Portsmouth Wednesday, May 17, to take on the host Patriots and Bay View in their 2023 Eastern Division finale at Green Valley Country Club.

East Providence finished with a team total of 187 over the par 36 back nine at Green Valley, while Portsmouth recorded a 191 and the Bengals a 219.

East Providence earned at least a share of second place in the league with Portsmouth following the win. The Townies finished their slate with an 11-3 record.

Portsmouth, which has one match remaining also against Bay View, saw its record move to 10-3. The Patriots defeated East Providence, 168-187, during the 2023 season opener for both sides at Wanumetonomy in Middletown. Each also beat the host Islanders. Barrington once again won the Eastern Division regular season with a perfect 14-0 record.

It's the most wins for EPHS since 2004 when the Townies went 11-5 in a slightly larger version of the Eastern Division at the time. The now defunct Our Lady of Fatima High School in Warren was the ninth team in the group back then. EP's record this spring matched its best by percentage since the Townies also went 11-3 in 2002.

"This is one of the best records we've ever had since I've been the coach," said EPHS head coach Bill McEnery, who is completing his 23rd season the Townies' mentor. "Going 11-3 and beating Portsmouth is nothing to sneeze at."

Freshman Nathan Carter, as he has most of his debut campaign, paced the Townies with an 8-over, 44. Billy Fitzgerald was next in for EPHS with a 47. Zach Mendo and Marcus Bostic had the two other counting scores for the Townies, each shooting 48.

Portsmouth's Joe Nardolillo was the day's medalist, shooting one better than Carter with a 43. Tyler Both shot 48 for the Pats with both Kyle Bielawa and Luke Harkins in at 50.

Katherine Waldorf was low for Bay View with 50 following by Jacqueline Buffery with 55, Lauren Adamonis with 56 and Ava Brennan with 58.

In the past, finishing second in the division would have guaranteed a team a spot in the state tournament, this year taking place May 30 and 31 at Cranston Country Club. However, the Interscholastic League changed the qualification criteria. While each of the five division winners gain entry into the team state tourney, the five other berths, regardless of division, will be earned by the teams with the lowest scoring average amongst those sides yet to qualify.

East Providence, in 12th place, cannot catch the last qualifier at the moment, Pilgrim. Portsmouth is in 10th place with the one match left and with a chance to catch their fellow Patriots with a low team total. Carter, most likely, as well as Fitzgerald and Mendo, possibly, have a chance to qualify to compete in the state individual tournament run simultaneously to the team event at Cranston.

"I'm really proud of these kids. They've had a terrific season," McEnery added. "It's just too bad going 11-3 isn't going to be good enough to make it into states."