After clinching the division title, the Cranston West golf team moved on to the Rhode Island Interscholastic League State Championships last week at Cranston Country Club and wrapped up a seventh-place finish.

Eric Whitlock, Jack Marques and Michael Farina all shot 162 between the two days. Josh Smith shot a 163, Jagger Dion a 165 and Zach Smith a 167 to round things out.

Although the Falcons were hoping for a top five finish as a team, they were excited to make the cut for the second round while boasting their division title. 

“Any time we can make the cut for the second day of states, that’s a bonus. We just had a tough day on the first day. (The kids) think they had a rough day, but our rough days are still up there with the best. That says a lot about them,” said West coach Steve Hallas. “I’ve never been prouder of a team. I thought it was going to be a tough road, but for them to buy in, work that hard and win the division, to make it to that second day of states, they went above and beyond. We’re just very proud.”

Graduating will be Whitlock, who has been a three-year starter for the program, as well as first year starters Josh and Zach Smith. 

“(Josh and Zach) gave us great depth, we were very well balanced this year. If there’s a nerve-racking moment, if we needed to put someone out there to make a 10-footer, I’d put (Whitlock) out there first,” said Hallas of his seniors.

Headlining the returners will be Marques, Dion and Farina, giving the Falcons what should be another formidable top three on the lineup card. Hallas believes the trio will return hungry to take a step forward and compete for a championship.

“They want bigger, they want to compete with the top three, they want a state championship of their home turf,” Hallas said. “They’re already working at it.”

The West golf team also wanted to give a thank you to the Cranston Country Club, especially general manager Michael Lombardi and golf director Tom Palmer, for their service to the program and league this season.