Golfers open season vs. Onteora
The Rhinebeck High School varsity golf team will look to bring home another division title and have a golfer contend for a spot at the state tournament. The Hawks will open the season against Onteora at Woodstock Golf Club on Sept. 2.
Rhinebeck suffered a one-stroke loss to Onteora, accounting for the only loss in a 12-1 season for the Hawks in 2024. Rhinebeck returns a cast of veterans from a team that captured the 2024 Mid-Hudson Athletic League Division IV title.
“I am fortunate as a coach to have players who love the game of golf, are dedicated to the process of continual improvement, and who care about team success,” said Rhinebeck coach David Jutton. “If they continue to focus on their improvement, the results will take care of themselves.”
Junior Nico Dentico was the low scorer in 10 of 12 matches last season, averaging 3.75 strokes over par. He came two strokes shy of qualifying for the second and final day of the Section IX championships and state qualifier.
“During this past offseason, my game has gotten much longer and with that comes the need to focus more on course management,” said Dentico. “Off the tee, I will need to think more about what I am hitting, not just choosing a driver on almost every hole. Some holes hitting iron off the tee will give me a better chance to find the fairway, so that's what I'll have to do.”
Dentico will be joined in the lineup by sophomore Damian Haag and junior James Jacox, who both averaged a 46. Sophomore Oscar Clark, junior Drew Culyer and senior Mason Decker round out the returners. Decker is the only returning senior.
“He has been on the team since middle school and will provide the leadership we need along with his golfing ability,” said Jutton of Decker.
Seniors Sawyer Giles and Joseph Pociask are promising newcomers on the roster.
Following divisional road matches against Webutuck on Sept. 8 and Millbrook on Sept. 10, the Hawks will host division rival Pine Plains at Red Hook Golf Club on Sept. 12.
“We definitely have what it takes to win our division again, we have a lot of returning players who all have experience and know what it takes,” said Dentico. “We all just have to make sure we are focused during practice and continue to get better every day.”