The golf Independent School League (ISL) golf season is about to kick off. The 14-team league has teams from Massachusetts and Rhode Island competing in match play, a different format from other high school competitions. Seven players compete in head-to-head matches against a player on the other team.
Last year, Belmont Hill won the league title in convincing fashion with an undefeated record. They were led by senior John Broderick, who was one of the best junior golfers in the region. At the end of the season, the teams gather to play a stroke play event called The Kingman Cup, honoring Middlesex coach Brad Kingman. Five players from each team keep an 18-hole score. The four best scores from each team are counted. In a surprise twist, Milton Academy took home the title last year and seemed poised to retain the cup this year.
The talent across these co-ed teams is strong and they get to play some excellent golf courses throughout the spring. The Kingman Cup will be held at Newport CC this spring. In addition, the Pippy O'Connor is an individual stroke play event for New England prep-school girls competing in the ISL and other prep-school leagues.
Let's meet the ISL teams teeing it up this spring.