EASTON — Three matches into the high school season, the same golfers have consistently been atop the leader board: two-time defending district champion Nate Smith of Queen Anne’s, two-time state qualifier Taryn Brandt of North Caroline, Josh David of Kent Island and freshman Quinten Joiner of Kent County.
Joiner continues to be the No. 1 golfer for the all-underclassman Trojans, and his 9-hole stroke average of 36 is second in the North Bayside Conference behind Smith (35).
In the only match of the week, Sept. 11 at Hog Neck, Joiner placed fifth overall with a 38 after he double-bogeyed the par-5 fourth hole.
Still, he was only one stroke out of third and two strokes out of second.
Smith was head and shoulders above everyone on this day, firing a 5-under par 31 that included six birdies — on the same course that seven days earlier he carded a 41.
Kent Island’s David (36) was the runner-up, followed by Brandt and St. Michaels’ Lexi Rockwell tied for third with 37s.
Joiner was next.
Junior Braden Wilson (51) has settled into the No. 2 slot for KCHS, but is being pushed by freshman Drew Haas (53), who for the second match in a row broke 60.
Completing the Trojans’ team scoring was freshman Barrett Gruszyinski (64).
Only a team’s top four scores are tabulated, but it is worth noting that freshman Jimmy Walters (72) made his high school debut.
With Smith and Sam Yetman (39) breaking 40, Queen Anne’s led the nine-school field with 161 points.
Kent Island (171) was second, followed by North Caroline (177), St. Michaels (192) and Easton (195) to round out the top five.
Then came Kent County (206), North Dorchester (215), Colonel Richardson (248) and Cambridge-South Dorchester, which did not have the required four golfers to score as a team.
This was the second match to be played at Hog Neck, where Haas lowered his score by 17 strokes from the season opener on Sept. 4.
“Drew is really improving. The entire team is improving,” coach Jonathan Fitch told The Evening Enterprise. “Everyone is playing night and day compared to our first practice. I’m excited for this season and the future of our golf team.”