West Center Harbor, n.h..
While his team, deep and talented, celebrated its third straight NHIAA Division IV championship victory Thursday at Waukewan Golf Club, Campbell went on about the need for recruiting, the top-end talent that would need to be replaced, the one freshman — Hayden Patten — who came out for this year’s team.
One couldn’t help but wonder if the celebration represented the end of an era.
Thursday’s NHIAA Division III and Division IV team golf championship turned out to be a continuation of dynasties. Newport, with its patented depth and the undeniable skill of senior No. 1 Cameron Gebo, powered its way to a 28-stroke victory over Moultonborough, its closest competition this season in D-IV.
Lebanon settled for second in D-III on Thursday, its first after departing D-II, falling 11 strokes behind Bow, winners of the last five D-III titles. Stevens, making its first team appearance since 2011, placed fifth in D-III.
“Coming into today, I told them my goal was 330. We finished with 336,” Campbell said. “Somebody else’s course, I’m very pleased. It just means they played to what their potential was.”
Gebo led the D-IV crowd with a 5-over-par 77 on Waukewan’s par-72 course, leading the group of 12 golfers who will compete for individual honors Saturday back at Waukewan. Junior Gabe Edwards (81) and senior Brandon Whalen (86) each had strong days for the Tigers, followed up by Campbell’s No. 6 Darren O’Connor, who registered a 92 in the championship victory.
“My No. 6 came through huge for me today,” Campbell said. “He’s been shooting his best golf in the last two weeks. … We peaked right at the right time.”
Edwards and Whalen will also compete in Saturday’s individual round. Hopkinton’s Nick Fairneny is slated to be Gebo’s stiffest competition after posting a 78 on Thursday.
Lebanon, in a similar fashion, got what it wanted out of its first season since dropping to D-III due to declining enrollment. Used to being on the outside looking in among D-II’s competitors, the Raiders wasted no time establishing themselves as one of the division’s top teams, leapfrogging Derryfield — the team that had Lebanon’s number all season — by three strokes for the runner-up spot.
“(Derryfield) beat us twice during the year,” said Raiders head coach Chris Pollard. “It felt good (to pass them). My whole expectation was hopefully coming in at No. 3 and leaving at No. 3. Beating Derryfield does feel good. … Quite honestly, the way we played in that practice round, I thought we had a chance to leapfrog Bow as well.”
The Raiders got their strongest day out of senior Hunter Marsh, who shot a 7-over 79. Six of Lebanon’s seven golfers shot below 90 in the round, led by Kyle Pelletier (81), Alex Bitler (85) and Kevin Kiernan (87).
“Golf is golf,” Pollard said. “In Division II, there were a few more top teams. This one seemed to be, it was kind of Bow, Derryfield and us. It kind of dropped off after that. Maybe another year, and it won’t be that way.”
Bow’s Doug Champagne led the field, recording a day-best 75 to lead the pack of individuals in D-III. Marsh, Pelletier and Stevens’ Cody Schoolcraft (85) will compete in Saturday’s individual round.
Second-year Cardinals coach Ryan Seaver couldn’t have been more pleased with his team’s performance on Thursday, only its fourth team appearance in the championship since 2001. Not only did his team qualify for states with a late-season surge and a little bit of luck in the standings, but it beat Pelham by 26 strokes and Kearsarge by 45 to take fifth. Stevens golf, Seaver said, seems securely pointed in the right direction.
“I’m absolutely thrilled,” Seaver said. “It’s what we talked about at the beginning of the day. Win our individual matches with them and see what happens. … We had our backs against the wall. We had to win six of our last seven matches. There were a lot of kids who grinded it out.”
For Campbell, who took over the Newport job from longtime Tigers coach Vince Molesky, next autumn presents a whole different challenge. Edwards will presumably be back to take over the No. 1 spot. Kyle Fish should continue to develop. But a lack of depth could prove critical in preserving Newport’s string of success.
“I’m hurting,” Campbell admitted. “I have four seniors, two juniors and one freshman. My numbers are down. I need go on and start recruiting now for my next group. … Next year, I’d hope to have a middle school team. I’d love to see a feeder program. I need to have a feeder program. That’s one of the challenges we face.”
But Campbell also knows that dynasties, by nature, are rare and sometimes unpredictable. He preached to his group just how special the last four years have been.
“It’s one of those memories where, five or six years from now, you’ll look back and say, ‘Wow, that is pretty special that I played for three championships in a row,’ ” he said. “In any sport.”
Josh Weinreb can be reached at jweinreb@vnews.com or 603-727-3306.