This season, senior captains Justin DeBortoli and Bryce Souza, both fourth-year varsity golfers, are leading the Dartmouth High golf team. They’re also neighbors, and good friends.

“It’s been interesting being in charge, and it was fun getting stuff ready for the beginning of the year,’ Souza said. “We’re doing pretty good, we should have a good shot at making sectionals.”

Souza was not a golfer before high school, but was convinced to join the team by DeBortoli, who is his neighbor. Since then, he’s upped his game and now leads a squad of 16 fellow players.

“I practice a lot, and come into each season ready to go” Souza said.

So far, that has led to a 4-3 season as the team struggled to get its footing, but Head Coach Mike Frates noted that is getting better.

“We’re finally starting to play a little bit more consistently,” Frates said. “Now that we’re three or four weeks into the season, they’re starting to get rounds in and the play is starting to get better. It’s far from where we want or need to be, but it’s a work in progress.”

Many on the team have only recently discovered golf. Like Souza, junior Ben Clark began playing seriously in his freshman year of high school, after being introduced to the sport through his father.

“I played every Father’s Day since I was six with my dad,” Clark said. “It was kind of a tradition, but I never took it seriously.”

Now, he’s hoping to up his scoring game, and set a goal to place in the high 30s -- he currently averages in the low 40s.

“Golf is kind of an individual sport,” Clark noted. “It’s not really based on your team like other sports, but it’s more about you. It’s a big head game mentally.”

With the team’s leadership, however, he’s confident he’ll succeed.

“I’m feeling good, we have [Bryce] and Justin DeBortoli as captains,” Clark said. “We’re doing well, we’re practicing every day.” 

The team most recently took on Bishop Stang on September 24, winning 270-277, improving the Indians' record to 4-3. The team takes on Barnstable in its third league match on September 28.