The Johnston golf team is in a position this season that it knows very well. The Panthers are one of the teams right on the cusp of a state tournament berth.
They hope they’re finally ready to get there.
After qualifying for the three-team West Division playoff that decides the division’s final state tournament berth the past three years and barely missing out each time, the Panthers are focused on taking the next step.
“We got edged out last year,” said head coach Jason Corsini. “I think that’s what we’re shooting for as a team.”
In fact, Johnston has been edged out the last three years. A season ago, it lost by seven strokes to North Providence. Two years ago, it also lost by seven strokes to North Providence. The year before that, the Panthers missed out by two strokes to Moses Brown.
With its top golfer back in the fold this year and a veteran top-six, Johnston likes its chances.
“Basically if we break 200, that’s our game,” Corsini said. “We’re all shooting for third place in our division, trying to be the home course advantage for the playoffs.”
The Panthers are off to a decent start so far, going 4-2 in their first six matches. They beat Tolman, St. Raphael and Shea twice, while losing to La Salle and North Providence.
La Salle and Moses Brown figure to be the top two teams in the division, leaving North Providence as Johnston’s chief competition for the No. 3 spot.
The Cougars beat Johnston by 22 strokes – 190-212 – in their first meeting on April 10.
“Can we make it as a team? We have to beat North Providence,” Corsini said. “We know what we have to do. They already beat us once, so we’re behind the eight-ball.”
Since then, though, the Panthers’ scores have gone way down. They dropped from that 212 to a 197 in their second match, and followed that up with a 195 in their third match.
That number could go even lower, and the progrss starts with senior John Gesualdi.
A regular at the state meet the last few years, Gesualdi has made the cut each of the last two and finished 16th overall last season. The year before, he was in contention for the top spot before a disappointing second day dropped him back.
While he’s gotten off to a sub-par start by his standards, with scores of 45, 44 and 45 in his first three matches, he should be one of the state’s best once again when it’s all said and done.
“It’s my last year with him,” Corsini said. “I’m going to miss him tremendously. He will be in the states. Last year he had a good finish and we’re looking for him to do even better this year.”
Playing in the No. 2 spot right now is senior Joe Peters, who was in the top four consistently last year. He’s fired scores of 57, 50 and 54 so far.
Sophomore Jacob McCullough is playing No. 3, and Corsini thinks there is potential for him to blossom into a top-tier type player. He’s only played in one match so far, shooting a 51.
“I’m excited about him,” Corsini said. “It looks promising. He’s going to be one of my top players.”
In the No. 4 spot is junior Jacob Dannenfelser, who has improved since last season after not being in the top six. He shot a 58 in his first match, but has come back with consecutive 50’s in his next two.
The fifth player is junior Matt Butler, who was a fixture in last season’s top six. He’s the only player other than Gesualdi to break 50 thus far, shooting a 49 in the team’s most recent match. He also has scores of 52 and 57 to his name.
At the back end is senior Kenny Deo, who played some last year in the top six. He’s gotten in all three matches this season, with scores of 63, 57 and 54.
“He’s come a long way,” Corsini said of Deo. “He’s improved tremendously.”
Senior Antonio Manzotti is also fighting for a spot in the top six, and he’s competed in two matches thus far with scores of 68 and 53.
It’s a group hoping to get Johnston to the promised land for the first time in a long time.
Gesualdi will be at states. The rest of the Panthers might be there as well.
“They can break 50 if they play well,” Corsini said. “That’s what we need."
Johnston’s next match is against Classical and Moses Brown at Agawam Hunt Club on Monday at 3:30 p.m.
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