Holy Child Golf
Fantastic Frosh Wins FAA Championship

High school freshmen are not supposed to defeat their upper classmen and win championships. Then again, Holy Child ninth grader Brooke Nethercott is no ordinary freshman. She’s been playing since her father first put a club in her hands at the tender age of 2.

The Gryphons’ golfer outplayed 19 other competitors to capture the Fairchester Athletic Association crown at the league’s final tournament May 18, at Round Hill Club in Greenwich. Nethercott shot a 40 on the 9-hole, par-36 course, and beat the second-place finisher by four strokes.

“It’s a big honor,” said Nethercott. “I worked so hard and have played for so long, so I was very excited to win.”

Holy Child’s manager, Mike Duignan, was ecstatic about the performance of his star.
“It's nice to see Brooke’s hard work and dedication rewarded with a win in our league’s tournament,” said Duignan. “She’ll be a player to watch for the next three years. She is an extremely hard worker who is also very humble about her skills and accomplishments, which are very advanced for a high school student of any grade.”

The last time a Gryphon won the FAA championship was in 2000. The team had 21 golfers involved in the program this season between the varsity and junior varsity squads, which Duignan says shows how popular the sport has become at the small school. Holy Child finished 3-3 in the FAA, tied for second behind 6-0 Rye Country Day. Nethercott says that along with winning more individual titles in her time as a Gryphon, she and her teammates have set a goal to win the league.

Duignan believes there is great promise in the golf program. “Brooke is following in large footsteps,” said Duignan, who mentioned Megan Francella, the Gryphon graduate who presently plays on the LPGA Tour. “Holy Child has a proud tradition in golf, and that tradition is continuing. We have a talented group of underclassman, so the future is bright for our growing program.”