Local squads will have some big shoes – many, many pairs, actually – to fill when the high school golf season tees off this month.
Graduation struck hard last spring, and the losses weren’t limited to just a handful of schools. Chambersburg loses a district and state medalist in Emily Rensch, while Waynesboro will have to move forward without the services of Tyler Fortney, the top golfer in the Mid-Penn Colonial Division last fall.
In Maryland, talent will have to rise to replace the graduation of All-CMC selections Colt Tucker (North Hagerstown), Jack Rhodes (South Hagerstown), and Owen Dunne (Smithsburg).
The good news for local golf fans is that the cupboard is far from bare, as a few teams bring back some stars that should make an impact. South Hagerstown’s Luke Leisinger is back after winning the CMC Tournament last season, while North Hagerstown returns three All-Star competitors.
Below is a team-by-team preview glance of the seven squads in the Local.News1.org coverage area:
Waynesboro Tribe
Coach: Ryan Henderson
Division: Mid-Penn Colonial
Last season: 22-20
Top projected returners: Abby Byers (Jr.), Caiden Shacreaw (Jr.), Landon Crable (Jr.), Rylan Nichols (Jr.)
Notable: Waynesboro has some big shoes to fill with the loss of the graduated Tyler Fortney, who won six of seven Colonial Division meets last fall … Fellow District 3-3A qualifier Marissa Musolino also graduated, but the Tribe bring back some postseason experience with the return of junior Abby Byers … Byers competed at districts last season and carded a 93-85-178 (+34) … Three returning juniors — Caiden Shacreaw, Landon Crable, and Ryan Nichols — all got varsity reps last season and will be counted on for improvement as Waynesboro looks to move up from a fourth-place finish in the Colonial.
Opener: Wednesday, Aug. 13, Mid-Penn Colonial Meet at Greencastle Golf Course
Chambersburg Trojans
Coach: Mark Yost
Division: Mid-Penn Commonwealth
Top projected returners: Colton Cornwell (Sr.), Tommy Johnston, Max Piper,
Notable: With the graduation of six seniors, including District 3 and PIAA medalist Emily Rensch, the Trojans will have some holes to fill in the lineup this fall … Rensch, now playing for the Siena College golf squad, placed third at districts last season after carding a 10-over 79-75-154 and she finished seventh at states with a four-over 75-73-148 … Chambersburg’s other district qualifier from 2024, Alaina Morris, has also graduated and is currently rostered on Saint Anselm’s golf squad … Colton Cornwell, Tommy Johnston, and Max Piper all got varsity reps season and could return this fall.
Opener: Wednesday, Aug. 13, Mid-Penn Commonwealth Meet at Penn National Golf Club Founders Course
Greencastle-Antrim Blue Devils
Coach: Jeremy Eby
Division: Mid-Penn Colonial
Last season: 22-20
Top projected returners: Camden Eby (Jr.), Bryce Davidson (Jr.), Conner Wilhide (Sr.)
Notable: Greencastle is projected to return at least three golfers from last year’s squad, which tied for fourth place in the Mid-Penn Colonial Division … Camden Eby is the Blue Devils’ lone returner with postseason experience. Last fall he shot shot an 84 at the Mid-Penn Tournament and missed the cut by one stroke … Junior Bryce Davidson and senior Conner Wilhide also had regular-season reps for Greencastle and are both projected to come back this fall … Greencastle will be looking to replace a talented group of seniors that included Mid-Penn qualifier Dillon McDonald, as well as Ben Horst and Nick Reed.
Opener: Wednesday, Aug. 13, Mid-Penn Colonial Meet at Greencastle Golf Course
Fairfield Knights
Coach: Scott Walter
Division: YAIAA III
Last season: 23-7
Top projected returners: Isabel Studli (Soph.), Aden Frank (Soph.)
Notable: Scott Walter takes over as head coach for the Knights, who competed to a runner-up finish in YAIAA III play last fall … Isabel Studli is projected to return for Fairfield after qualifying for states as a freshman last seasonn … Studli shot an 89-83-172 (+28) for second place at the District 3-2A Championships, before carding an 80-88-168 (+24) for 19th place at states … Stephen Cooper, a District 3-2A qualifier, has graduated … Aden Frank gained some valuable experience last season and is projected to return to the lineup as a sophomore this fall.
Opener: Monday, Aug. 18, YAIAA meet at Gettysburg National Golf Course
N. Hagerstown Hubs
Coach: Justin Lewis
Classification: District 1 Class 4A/3A
Top projected returners: Delaney Fuss (Jr.), Sadie Morton (Jr.), Tristan Stiffler (Soph.), Ethan Jennings (Sr.), Keegan Warrick (Soph.)
Notable: It’s not about rebuilding for North Hagerstown this fall, but rather reloading as the Hubs return three All-CMC selections to the golf course, including a pair of junior Second Teamers in Delaney Fuss and Sadie Morton … Fuss was a solid postseason performer last year, when she shot a career-best 79 at the CMC Tournament and led her team with an 82 at the WCPS tourney … Morton posted a 90 at the CMCs and recorded a 91 at the WCPS event … As a freshman last season, Tristan Stiffler played his way to an Honorable Mention selection on the All-CMC squad … Another All-CMC pick, Colt Tucker, has graduated, but the Hubs are projected to return a couple of others with postseason experience: Ethan Jennings and Keegan Warrick … North Hagerstown will be looking to improve upon its performance from the 2024 postseason, when it took fifth at the CMC, third at the WCPS, and seventh at the district tourneys.
S. Hagerstown Rebels
Coach: Aaron Kelly
Classification: District 1 Class 4A/3A
Top projected returners: Luke Leisinger (Sr.), RJ Liriano (Sr.), Jack Burns (Jr.)
Notable: South Hagerstown brings back its top performer in senior Luke Leisinger, who was an All-CMC Large School First Team selection last fall … Leisinger’s biggest performance of 2024 came at the WCPS Tournament, an event that saw him card an 81 and come away as champion after four playoff holes … Leisinger also led South Hagerstown in scoring with an 83 at the District 1 Class 4A/3A Tournament and an 81 at the CMC Tournament … RJ Liriano, an All-CMC Large School Honorable Mention selection, also returns for the Rebels … Liriano scored an 88 at the CMC tourney, an 89 at the WCPS tourney, and a 96 at districts … With Leisinger and Liriano leading the way last fall, South Hagerstown was a Top 10 team at districts while also placing second at the WCPS and fourth at the CMC tourneys … The Rebels do, however, have some shoes to fill after the graduation losses of Zeke Myers, Jack Rhodes, and Cody Booth … Rhodes was an All-CMC Large School Honorable Mention selection, while Booth is currently serving in the U.S. Army … Look for junior Jack Burns to fill in that talent gap after garnering some postseason experience last fall.
Opener: Thursday, Aug. 28, vs. Smithsburg at Hagerstown Greens
Smithsburg Leopards
Coach: Darren Weaver
Classification: District 1 Class 2A/1A
Top projected returners: Daniel Partlow (Sr.), Ryan Darr (Sr.), Leah Hahn (Soph.), Sam Peters
Notable: Smithsburg is coming off a season that saw two of its golfers — Owen Dunne and Owen Partlow — land on the All-CMC Small School Team as Honorable Mention selections … Dunne has graduated, but Partlow returns for his senior season … Partlow was the Leopards’ top golfer at last fall’s District 1 Class 2A/1A Championship, shooting a 93 to lead his team to a 14th-place finish … Senior Ryan Darr is also projected to return for Smithsburg after posting a 96 at the WCPS Tournament and a 100 at the CMC Tournament last season … Two others with postseason experience could return for the Leopards: Sam Peters and Leah Hahn … Molly Weaver, who shot a 93 at the WCPS tourney, has been lost to graduation.
Opener: Monday, August 25, vs. Brunswick at Musket Ridge Golf Club
