EASTON — Quinten Joiner is living up to his reputation as a contender to win every match this high school golf season.
With one week under his belt, the Kent County freshman tied for medalist honors in his debut Sept. 4 and placed second the next day.
As a team, the all-underclassman Trojans improved by 12 strokes from their first match to their second.
Jonathan Fitch and Kolyn Kirby return as coaches for a KCHS golf program that was relaunched last year after folding in September 2018 — after just the second match of the season — because it had only one golfer.
You need four golfers to score as a team.
Kent County’s 2023 team did not win any matches and did not qualify anyone for the state tournament, but the Trojans started the season with seven golfers and finished with eight.
The momentum has carried over to 2024, with more than enough golfers to score as a team.
Joiner, one of five freshmen, has established himself as Kent County’s number one.
Junior Braden Wilson, who transferred to KCHS last spring, is number two.
Sophomore Tucker Ervin, the only returnee, starts the season at number three and freshman Drew Haas at number four.
Three other freshmen — Barrett Gruszynski, Brexton Usilton and Jimmy Walters — are battling for the fifth slot.
Practice started Aug. 15.
Chester River Yacht & Country Club is the Trojans’ home course. They practice at the driving range, where they also work on chipping and focusing on different scenarios they might face in a match, as well as the putting green and playing a few select holes.
The season opener for the nine North Bayside Conference schools was Sept. 4 at Hog Neck in Easton.
Joiner carded a nine-hole score of 35 to tie North Caroline’s Taryn Brandt for medalist honors.
As a team, KCHS finished seventh with a composite tally of 213 with scoring from Joiner, Wilson (46), Ervin (62) and Haas (70).
Queen Anne’s edged Kent Island, 176-177, in the team scoring. North Caroline and Easton tied for third with 182.
The following day at Prospect Bay Country Club in Grasonville, Joiner carded a 1-under par 35 and was two strokes back of Queen Anne’s senior Nate Smith, the two-time defending district champion and three-time state tournament qualifier.
Kent Island’s Josh David (38) was third.
This time, Kent Island shaded Queen Anne’s, 168-169.
Kent’s foursome of Joiner, Wilson (51), Gruszynski (56) and Haas (59) lowered the team score to 201.
