The Observer’s 2023 high school boys golf preview

Spring sports season starts Feb. 27, and continuing today, The Observer will provide previews for teams in our area across of the spring sports, culminating with a baseball preview and our preseason Sweet 16 poll. Today, we continue with boys golf.

Boys golf teams to watch

Charlotte Catholic: The defending 4A state champions are loaded once again with four of their five starters back in the lineup. Those four returning starters include reigning 4A state individual champion Will Hartman, who became the first freshman to win the title since current PGA tour golfer Brendon Todd in 2000. Joining Hartman are seniors Steven Shea (Carnegie Mellon University signee, all-state) and Luke Guthrie (Savannah College of Art and Design signee) and sophomore Will Guthrie (shot a four-under par, 32, in his first high school match last year). Coach Shawn Panther’s has the potential to win its fifth straight state title (3A titles in 2018, 2019, 2021 (2020 cancelled because of COVID-19) and 4A in 2022).

Charlotte Latin: The reigning NCISAA Division I state runner-up returns four starters, led by senior Davis Sayman (Davidson College signee) and freshman Aston Lee. The Hawks have the experience and talent to contend for another title. Sayman was the 2021 individual state champ.

Lincoln Charter: The Eagles return six players who contributed to a team that won the Catawba Shores’ 1A/2A conference and 2A West Regional titles last year. This season, senior, D’yanni Rhyne (39.1 average) and junior Jonathan Jones (38.2 average) look to repeat as conference and regional champions, while contending for the 2A state title. Lincoln Charter finished fourth as a team last year.

Myers Park: The Mustangs return all but one player from last year’s team that finished third at the 4A West Regional and sixth at the 4A state championships. The golfers include senior Eli Schmidly (Charlotte 49ers’ commit), the reigning SoMeck 4A conference player of the year (also ninth at 4A West Regional); seniors Robert Thompson (Hillside College commit, all-conference, fourth at the 4A West Regional), Dean Lowery along with sophomore, Reid Heaton.

South Stanly: South Stanly returns its top six golfers from a team that expects to defend its’ 1A state championship. Coach Doug Smith will leading on senior Dustin Hurley (Pfeiffer University commit, 1A Midwest Regional champion, Yadkin Valley 1A/2A conference player of the year), and junior Luke Dennis (2021 Yadkin Valley 1A/2A conference player of the year). However, South Stanly’s strength is their depth of talent with seniors Reid Smith, Jacob Turner, Luke Webb and Davis Wright also contributing.

Boys golfers to watch

Alex Bock, Freedom: The Patriots’ junior, who finished as 3A West Runner-up and ninth at the 3A state championship, headlines a team that returns all five starters.

Seamus Bogan, Gaston Day: The defending NCISAA 2A state champion, a junior, returns with seniors Collin Goulet and Atilla Molnar to try to also win another team state title together.

Jude Carper, Hough: The reigning Queen City Athletic conference player of the year looks to build on a strong freshman season where he also tied for ninth at the 4A West Regional.

Benjamin Chase, Ardrey Kell: The Knights’ junior leads an Ardrey Kell team with four starters back who all were regional and state qualifers, while leading Ardrey Kell to a SoMeck 4A conference title. Chase looks to improve on tying for fifth at the 4A West Regional and tying for 26th at states.

Talan Harrison, Northwest Cabarrus: The Trojans’ sophomore was South Piedmont conference runner-up, conference player of the year, 3A Midwest Regional runner-up and finished 14th at the 3A state championship in his first high school season.

Aiden Hollar, Alexander Central: The Cougars’ all-conference senior is back after tying for 18th at the 4A West Regional. He’ll lead an experienced squad (four of five starters return) that finished sixth at the 4A West Regional last season.

Jack LaPiana, Providence Day: The Chargers’ all-state senior looks to finish strong before continuing his golf career at the University of Richmond.

Isaia Mazock, Lake Norman: The Wildcats’ senior, a Bluefield College (WV) commit, will lead the team with classmates Brock Brice and Connor McGuire, which hopes to repeat as Great Metro 4A conference champions.

Charlie O’Shea, Charlotte Country Day: The Buccaneers’ lone returning all-state performer will team with senior Landon Hawley to help Charlotte Country Day try to defend its NCISAA Division I state championship.

Collin Salema, Providence: The Panthers’ junior, a Clemson commit, looks to build on a strong sophomore campaign, where he was Southwestern 4A conference champion, 4A West Regional runner-up and finished 14th at the 4A state championship.

Luke Sbardella, Hickory Ridge: The Ragin’ Bulls’ all-conference senior tied for 30th at the 4A West Regional last year and will commit to play college golf soon, according to Hickory Ridge golf coach Brian Jones.

Will Spicer, Kings Mountain: The Mountaineers’ junior looks to build on a sophomore season where he won the Big South conference title and Big South player of the year. He also won the 3A West Regional crown while leading his team to championships in both events. With four starters back, Kings Mountain should be even better this season.

Jack Wieler, Marvin Ridge: The Mavericks’ senior, an Elon University commit and all-state performer, was 4A state runner-up last season after he tied for 8th at the 4A West Regional and won the Southern Carolinas’ conference title.

Golf notes

▪ Golf Studio: The Charlotte Christian golf program committed to its future by adding an on campus golf studio with a foresight launch monitor -- the same one used by Tiger Woods and other PGA Tour golfers. The studio should have a positive impact on a team that appears on the rise, led by juniors Oliver Tobin and Connor Natwick and sophomores, Stokes Greene and Alexander Paschal.

▪ Nationally ranked: Charlotte Catholic sophomore Will Hartman is not only the top player in the state in the class of 2025 and Charlotte Observer player of the year (2022), but he is also ranked No. 3 in the nation in his class, according to the American Junior Golf Association (AJGA) Rolex rankings. Hartman is No. 30 in the nation overall, regardless of class, according to the AJGA.

This story was originally published February 20, 2023 at 5:30 AM.