Photo by: Alex Gross ’24

After taking second place in the State Championship last fall, Charlie Palmer ’23 said the Brophy golf team is looking strong this season.

Palmer finished fifth at the state championships. Last January, he verbally committed to become a Princeton Tiger.

The Tigers have won twelve NCAA team titles throughout the program’s history, and compete in the Ivy League against the likes of Harvard, Yale, and Columbia.

Over the summer, Palmer took part in a number of tournaments, most notably the United States Junior Amateur Championship. At the Championship, he finished in a tie for ninth place over a field of some of the best high school golfers in the country.

“The US Junior Amateur was the greatest tournament I have ever played in,” said Palmer. “Being at a course like Bandon Dunes, the setting was unreal and I was just grateful to be there.”

Palmer has been a starter at Brophy for four years. Mr. Jon Shores said he regards Palmer as the senior leader of the team.

“What makes Charlie good is he has a crazy strong work ethic,” said Mr. Shores. “he’s exceptionally bright and intelligent. He knows his game very well.”

This will be the 22nd year that Mr. Shores has coached the Broncos on the golf course, and the 16th that he has been head coach.

Last year at the State Championships, the Broncos finished at eight under par, while Hamilton ran away with the trophy at 35 under par. Mr. Shores said that the Huskies’ score was the lowest that he has seen in his time at Brophy.

The team will be returning seven juniors and seniors this year, bringing experience to the group. Palmer, Tyler Spielman ’24, and Trevor Karber ’23 headline the upperclassmen.

The Broncos’ season includes eight matches and four tournaments. Some early highlights include team titles at both the Brophy Invitational, and the Brophy Rodeo.

Nick Lyman ’25, who is returning for his second year, said that the team is great at staying calm and collected. He expects them to have a real chance in the state tournament again this year.

The Broncos will look to keep hitting fairways throughout the rest of the season. If they do, a playoff rematch with Hamilton seems likely.

“Our main goal is to keep getting better throughout the season and to peak around the State Championships to give us the best chance,” said Palmer.