By Dan Hardenbrook
An impressive crop of young golfers is emerging in Newberry. The Newberry Middle School (NMS) boys golf team has been dominating, going undefeated for nearly two full seasons. Meanwhile, the NMS girls golf team is making plenty of noise on their own. Both groups hosted the meets at the Newberry Country Club last week and swept the competition on their home course.
Often found cruising around the course or walking the halls with clubs in hand, the future golf stars have put in the time and the work to develop their craft under Head Coach Kenn Depew, who may have a potential soon to be dynasty on his hands.
That effort was evident last week. The ladies went head-to-head in EUP play against Cedarville-DeTour, and a trip of Lady Indians tied for the top spot with low rounds for the day. Becca Rahilly, Sailor Raymond, and Blair Maki each shot a 61 for the low rounds of the day and led the way in the win. The Islanders finished in spots 4-6, but Ellory Curley (70) and Lily Rao (72) were close behind, closing out the victory. Newberry finished with a team total of 321, well ahead of Cedarville-DeTour’s 350.
The boys continued their remarkable run of results, out shooting Pickford and Cedarville-DeTour in another show of dominance on the hometown course. Twenty-five golfers teed off in the boys match, with only six shooting under 50. Four of them were Newberry Indians, led by low round and top finishers Jarrett Zellar and Austin Bolton, who tied with a 40.
Oren Dewitt took third after shooting a 421. Julian Suriano was only one shot behind, and the Indians scooped up to the top four spots. Logan McIntyre also had an impressive round, finishing with a 50 and coming in 7th place. Quentin Magnusson also earned a top-half finish, as he shot a 57 while Finn Price put a 58.
The deep and talented roster continues to impress their coach, who said he knew almost instantly that this group would find success.
“Last year when we started junior high golf, I watched them hit a couple of buckets of balls and was wowed,” Depew said. “That’s when I brought them in and sat them down and told them that if they put in the work and really try hard, while listening to the feedback I give them, we could be a special group!”
They have more than held up their end of the bargain, and Depew says the sky’s the limit on what they can achieve. “If they stick it out, they can easily compete at UP Finals for golf, maybe almost immediately next year as freshmen.”
It’s high praise, but the results don’t lie. Strong play, fueled by that determination and dedication, plus love for the game, can only help as the game of golf gains popularity among local youth. Newberry’s team numbers for boys and girls at both levels are among the largest they have ever been. That means the future is bright for golf in Newberry.
