The Houlton High School varsity golfers take their 7-2 record to the Class B regional tomorrow at JaTo Highlands in Lincoln, which will determine qualifiers for the state team meet to be held at Natanis Golf Course in Vassalboro on Oct. 6.
“We are more than capable of qualifying,” said Houlton coach Bruce Nason. “The kids have to buckle down and concentrate and do what they are capable of. I’m not looking to the states, we need to qualify first.”
The Shiretowners two season losses came to undefeated Presque Isle and MDI.
“Agaist MDI, we didn’t play well at all,” Nason said. “But, out of nine matches, five of them were away. We have a new bunch of kids learning how to play another course, and playing it for the first time is a little difficult.”
The Shiretowners, who are defending Class C state titlist, have played well over the season, as they lost four members of last year’s squad — graduates Mike Cleary, Josh McGuire, Peter Hagan and this year’s senior Chris McGuire, who opted to play soccer this year.
“We are a very young group with five freshmen and a senior,” Nason said. “Our play through the regular season was very successful. I’m pleased with the way they performed. I pushing them hard because I want them to focus and get better every time they step out on the course.”
Junior Porter Gervais is the number one golfer, with an average of 41.25, while his brother Ian, a freshman, is playing very tough with a 40.8 average and rivaling his brother on the course. The two have shared low medalist honors throughout the regular season.
In the third spot is junior Dylan Flewelling and playing fourth is Greg Foster. Both golfers’ average is 44.5, while lone senior Max Rush shot a 47.2 over the season.
Playing fairly even, according to Nason, are Ashley Cleary, averaging 52; Nikki Eastman, 50.1; Gaige Flewelling, 50; Ben Flewelling, 58.1; Logan Holmes, 52 and Logan Shaffer, 55.
The Shiretowners played the JaTo course during the season, and Nason is hoping that his team does better this time.
“I just want each one to play the best golf they can,” said Nason. “We need to keep the ball in play and play target golf. We need to play smart. We need to try to score on the front because the back nine is very difficult. Par is a good score on the back since it’s narrow and tough to play.”
The Shiretowners hit the course for more work the last two days before the tournament.
“The elevation of the greens is totally different,” Nason said of the JaTo course. “We will be working on chipping to the greens. That is where we will score … chipping and putting and putting the ball on the green.”
On Monday, the Shiretowners finished the regular season on their home course with a 167-211 win over Penobscot Valley High School.
Ian Gervais was the low medalist with a score of 40, followed by brother Porter a stroke behind. D. Flewelling and Rush both shot identical 43s, while Foster finished with a 47. Cleary carded a 52, while G, Flewelling hit a 46; L. Holmes and L. Shaffer both tallied 54s, while B. Flewelling had a 62.
At JaTo Highlands last week against MDI, the Shires were defeated 177-184. Joe Richardson of MDI was the low medalist with a 39, while I. Gervais was a stroke behind.
Houlton scores included: P. Gervais, 44; G. Flewelling, 45; D. Flewelling, 48; Rush and Eastman, 52s; Cleary, 56; Shaffer and Holmes, 57s and B. Flewelling, 58.
