La Plata golf tops North Point in season opener

While their numerous classmates and contemporaries at rival schools will have to wait until after Labor Day for their official start to the 2024 fall season, the La Plata High School golf team downed North Point 171-210 on Tuesday afternoon at White Plains Golf Course in the season opener for both Southern Maryland Athletic Conference teams.

One year ago, La Plata (1-0) and North Point (0-1) featured the best female golfers in the state in the Warriors’ senior Shelby Herbert and the Eagles’ freshman Aspen Bikowski. Herbert graduated in the spring, while Bikowski and her family have since relocated to Florida. In their absence, it was a quartet of La Plata boys who quickly filled the void for the Warriors.

La Plata senior Clinton Cupples led the way with a low round of 41, while teammates Ben Wilson (43) and Cam Cooke (43) were next and Brody Darnell (44) capped the scoring for the Warriors. Austin Harding (46) led North Point on Tuesday, followed by Mia Johnson (52), Lena Black (54) and Julian Weedin (58) for the Eagles.

Cupples, whose primary sport is swimming and plans to continue his aquatic prowess in college one year from now after concluding his high school days with the Warriors this winter, was content with his round on Tuesday. Both Wilson and Cooke, genuine two-sport stars in their own right with both also playing baseball in the spring, were within striking range of low medalist honors when play ended.

“Considering it was the first match of the season, I thought I played pretty well,” said Cupples, who also swam for Hawthorne Country Club in the summer in addition to competing in several long course meets. “I just want to keep getting better during the season. I love playing with this group of guys. This is our last season together, so we’re hoping to do well in SMAC, regionals and make finals for states.”

Wilson, who also plays baseball for the school as well as the La Plata Post 82 American Legion team that includes Cam Cooke and is coaches by his father, Matt Cooke, also accepted the opening match results favorably.

“I know I can definitely play better than I did today,” Wilson said. “But it’s just the first match and I know we all can keep improving throughout the season. For me and the team I know we want to win SMAC, regionals and then be competing on the second day of the State tournament [at the University of Maryland].”

SMAC golfers will resume play on Tuesday, Sept. 3, with a match at Chesapeake Hills Golf Course in Calvert County hosted by Huntingtown then a trio of matches on Wednesday, Sept. 4, at Hawthorne and White Plains in Charles County and Breton Bay in St. Mary’s County.