The 2023 season was one to remember for the Greenwich High School girls golf team, which won the CIAC Division I Championship after finishing the regular season with a perfect 12-0 record.

This spring, the Cardinals are hoping to another memorable, storybook season and they are well on their way to doing so.

Greenwich improved its record to 5-1, defeating FCIAC rival Trumbull on Monday, 172-188, at Griffith E. Harris Golf Course in Greenwich. The Cardinals followed up the win on their home course by registering a 167-200 win over FCIAC foe Darien, also at Griffith E. Harris Golf Course on Wednesday for their sixth victory of the 2024 season.

“The team is working together really well, we have great teamwork even though it’s not exactly a team sport,” Greenwich senior captain Caroline McShea said. “We connect with each other really well, we’re all shooting good scores, which is good and I feel we can beat anyone we come across.”

McShea, an All-FCIAC First Team selection in 2023, has been a mainstay in Greenwich’s lineup since her freshman season.

“Being on varsity for four years has been incredible,” said McShea, one of the Cardinals’ captains. “I’ve watched the people around me grow and myself. I’m really excited to end my senior year with the team.”

Last season saw Greenwich win the team title at the CIAC Division I Championship with a team aggregate score of 337 at Timberlin Hill Golf Club. New Canaan was the runner-up (340) and Trumbull finished third (357).

The victory marked Greenwich’s first CIAC Division I state team championship since the 2016 season and its third state title overall – the Cardinals also claimed the championship in 2014.

Brian Dayton is in his first season as coach of the Cardinals’ varsity team, after serving as the program’s junior varsity coach a year ago. He replaces Taner Karakas, who spent several highly successful seasons at the helm, including last year’s state championship campaign.

“I’m excited, they were the state champs last year, so it’s big shoes to fill, but it’s a great group of girls and obviously, a very talented team,” Dayton said. “I have high expectations, I know they have high expectations. We’re off to a good start. Trumbull is always very tough.”

In Monday’s victory against Trumbull at Griffith E. Harris Golf Course, McShea shot a 39 over nine holes, while junior Ally Bauer carded a 42. Senior captain Charlotte Langhorne registered a round of 46, while sophomore Ellery Talbot posted a 45 to round out the Cards’ score of 172. Zarah Hillman, also a senior captain, shot a 47 in the winning effort.

McShea began her round in impressive fashion and finished in it fine fashion at the No. 1 spot.

“I started off strong, which I needed to do, I birdied the third hole, which kind of gave me a boost of motivation to keep going,” McShea noted. “I did have a couple of bogeys, but I was able to end the round with three pars in a row, which is really good.”

Bauer, who plays at No. 2, quickly got her round going in a positive direction after the first two holes against Trumbull Monday at Griffith E. Harris Golf Course.

“I think I got off to the roughest start imaginable,” said Bauer an All-FCIAC First Team selection in 2022 and 2023. “I tried to get past those holes and then I made two birdies and although putting was rough, I’m proud of the way I battled. Although the first two holes screwed up my score, I’m proud of the way I played on the remaining seven.”

“Because of the early season, the short game is a little rough and my game just isn’t where it needs to be yet, but I’m really proud of my team,” Bauer added.

Langhorne’s round at the No. 3 spot against Trumbull, was sparked by her short game, a strength of hers throughout her varsity golf career with the Cards.

“It was a bit of a rollercoaster,” Langhorne said of Monday’s round versus Trumbull. “I came in fresh off a lesson trying to fix my driver, so the first round after that there’s a lot of stuff going through your head a lot of things to keep in mind – a lot of swing thoughts. So, I was mostly trying to narrow those down to one, especially off the tee.”

“My strong suit so far the last couple of rounds has been my putting,” continued Langhorne, a two-time All-FCIAC First Team selection. “It was all right today and so far it’s been strong. I had some good shots.”

Talbot posted a stellar round against Trumbull, as did Hillman. Also captaining the Cardinals is senior Isabella Crasto, also an integral part of the squad for several seasons.

“Our seniors, Caroline, Zarah, Charlotte and Bella, I asked all of them in the fall to take that responsibility on and they were excited about it,” Dayton said. “This team is very close, they get along with each other.”

Greenwich’s first three home matches – victories over Fairfield Warde, Danbury and Wilton – each took place at Fairview Country Club in Greenwich. Most of the rest of the Cardinals’ home matches this season will be held at Griffith E. Harris Golf Course, known as ‘The Griff’ to golfers in town.

“I love The Griff, I’ve been playing here my whole life,” Langhorne noted. “Having a change of pace with Fairview and them inviting us has been great too.”

“I feel very comfortable at this course,” McShea said of competing at The Griff. “I’ve been playing here for so many years.”

Up next for Greenwich is a home match against St. Joseph on Monday.

“I’m really excited for the season, we have a lot of new girls, so that’s been fun – introducing them to the team and getting to know them better,” said Hillman, who like her fellow senior captains, embraces her leadership role.

“It feels good,” Hillman said of being a captain. “It’s a big responsibility but it’s nice. I feel like I’m being held accountable maybe a little bit more than last year. It’s nice to be there for my teammates if they need me.”

The Cardinals’ loss this season came against New Canaan at Country Club of New Canaan on April 23. The Rams will be also be one of the top contenders for the FCIAC and state championships.

“We play New Canaan again, that’s the team that beat us and they are always very talented, we are playing them at home two weeks from now, so we’ll see if we can bounce back,” Dayton noted.

“I definitely think New Canaan is a strong team, they’ve got great players,” Bauer said. “With hard work and discipline we can definitely pull it off. We want to win FCIACs, win states.”

Said Langhorne: “Winning the state championship was great last season. “It’s awesome to call ourselves state champions. It’s an added bit of confidence.”

The 2023 season also saw Greenwich place second in the FCIAC Tournament behind champion Trumbull.

“We talked earlier in the season, our main goal is to get the FCIAC title this year,” Dayton noted. “We lost it in a close call last year and they want to repeat as state champs as well. They have high aspirations for themselves and they’re in a good position to do that. What they do for the next for weeks will determine if they get there.”

“We want to get better as a whole,” McShea said. “Each match, we want to be able to put one hole behind us if we have one of those bad holes. To be able to stay on track is important.”