St. John's Pioneer golfers should contend
By Ken Powers Contributing Writer

Shrewsbury - The years, and some of the names, have changed, but everything else has pretty much stayed the same for the St. John's High School golf team.

The Pioneers, the two-time defending Central Mass. and state champion in Division 1, entered play this week 4-0, having already racked up wins over Doherty, St. Peter-Marian, Burncoat and Xaverian.

"The season's off to a good start," said Bill Prendiville, St. John's longtime coach. "We've got a good nucleus of players back who scored very well for us in the Central Mass. and state tournaments, but we also lost a couple of golfers who are going to be tough to replace."

Key returnees for the Pioneers are their top two golfers from a year ago, seniors Taylor Fontaine and Connor Wentzell. Both players seem to be picking up right where they left off last fall, too. Fontaine is currently carrying a nine-hole average of 36, while Wentzell usually needs about 38 strokes to get through a nine-hole match.

Also back from last year's team is senior Matt Burke and junior Don Adams. Rounding out the Pioneers' top five is junior Matt Creamer.

Together the quintet - especially Burke, Creamer and Adams - will need to replace the performances turned in by last year's Nos. 3 and 4 golfers for the Pioneers - Brandon Parker and Pete Wilson. Parker is currently playing at William and Mary, Wilson at Georgetown.

"Both Brandon and Pete scored very well for us last year," Prendiville said, "especially in the tournaments."

Rounding out this year's St. John's roster is senior Pat Bibaud and juniors Evan Degnan, Nick Angelo, Sam Russell, George Ciociolo, Joe Perron and Brendan Sullivan.

"The first five is pretty much set - Taylor, Connor, Matt, Matt and Don," Prendiville said, "but we're kind of rotating the rest of the guys into those final two spots to see what we have, to see who is going to emerge as solid players who can be counted on as the season progresses."

Fontaine, the Pioneers' longest hitter off the tee the last few years, spent the summer working on the parts of his game that come into play the closer he gets to the hole.

"Last year he really started to see that you can hit it as long as you want, but your score depends upon how well your putting and your short game is," Prendiville said. "Taylor worked very hard on that part of his game this summer and it really shows."

Fontaine showed Central Mass. - and Burncoat - just how much his short game has improved, firing a 5-under-par 31 at Green Hill in a match between the two teams Sept. 5.

Wentzell, Prendiville said, also worked on his short game this summer, getting it to a point where it's a nice complement to his swing, among the best his coach has ever seen.

"Connor has a very nice, very good swing," Prendiville said. "Very smooth. The club is always in the proper position - at the top of the swing and as he brings it through the ball. It's very fluid."

Prendiville said the key to whether the Pioneers are celebrating a third straight Central Mass. or state championship when the season ends depends on the development of the back end of the team.

"We need some guys to step up," Prendiville said. "The top guys can't be expected to shoot the lowest number every time. They're going to have off days. When they do, one of the other kids needs to post a number that can help us win the match."