It's best regular season record in decades as well as setting a new program scoring mark for stroke play scoring still weren't enough for the East Providence High School golf team to earn a berth into next week's state team championship tournament set for May 28 and 29 at Cranston Country Club.

The Townies easily defeated host Bay View along with Mt. Hope in their final 2024 Eastern Division match held Monday, May 20, at nearby Crestwood Club, posting the aforementioned record low score of 153 strokes over the par 35 front side of the Rehoboth layout. Mt. Hope shot 166 and Bay View 217.

East Providence's low scorer for the season Nathan Carter led the way with an even par round of 35. Billy Fitzgerald, second in scoring for the spring, was next in at 1-over 36. Noah Araujo shot 39 and senior Zach Mendo playing his final high school match had the last counting score of 43.

The sweep upped the Townies's record in Eastern Division matches to 12-2, good for second place behind only unbeaten and perennial power Barrington at 14-0. The dozen wins were the most for EPHS since the locals also went 12-2 in the Eastern Division back in the 2001 season, when they likewise placed second to then 13-1 Barrington.

Of most importance, though, East Providence wound up 2024 with a team scoring average of 161.3 and in 12th place in the state rankings. Unfortunately for the Townies, only the top 10 squads in scoring make the state tourney. Pilgrim tipped EP and Smithfield (160.8) with an average of 159.8.

There's some solace for the locals in that Carter and Fitzgerald are once again among the some two dozen solo competitors who have qualified to play in the individual portion of the state tourney also at Cranston next week. Carter posted the seventh-best solo scoring average at 36.2 strokes per round. Fitzgerald was 27th at 39 spr.

"The kids played very well, obviously, but it still wasn't enough," said EPHS head coach Bill McEnery, who was also in charge of the Townies back in that '01 season.

He continued. "I told them even though we didn't qualify, I still believe we're a top 10 team in the state. At least Billy and Nathan will get a chance to play."