Wildcat golfers to play in qualifying tourney Monday

    The Presque Isle Wildcats have a few more days to prepare for Monday’s Penobscot Valley Conference qualifying tournament at JaTo Country Club in Lincoln.
    PI, despite its youthful roster, has put together yet another successful season under coach Jim York. The ‘Cats took a 6-2 record into its final regular season match yesterday at home against Houlton.  A top-three finish in Monday’s tourney would catapult PI into the Class B Team Championships at Natanis Golf Club in Vassalboro Oct. 11. The top golfers will also earn a berth in the individual tournament, also at Natanis Oct. 18.
    “Given the fact we are a team that had little or no match experience prior to the season, I am very proud of the way we have played,” York said.
    The Wildcats have been led by senior captain Jon Humphrey and sophomore Travis Dyer, who have earned the most medals (low score in a match) this season. However, Jason Martin has also been consistently among the team’s top three golfers and freshman Evan Waddell has been in the top five and even medaled in last Tuesday’s 32-stroke home victory over Stearns which avenged one of the Wildcats’ two losses. Junior Keenan Eaton has also had enjoyed some strong play throughout the season.
    “I cannot tell you which players are going to have our four low scores of the day because it varies from match to match, and to me, that’s a good thing,” York said. “A team cannot rely on the same four guys to always pull through and for us, that holds true.
    “We are trying to stay consistent and play one shot at a time and understand that bad shots will happen, but it is how you bounce back afterwards that will determine how the rest of your round will go.”
    Jordan Hallett, Cody Merrill and Alex Tuttle are Presque Isle’s other top golfers.
    Last Tuesday in the win over Stearns, Waddell led the way with a 41, while Humphrey was next with a 43 and Merrill posted a 44.
    Against Caribou Friday, a 171-177 victory for PI on the Vikings’ home course, Dyer posted a 40 and shared medalist honors with Caribou’s Ellis Pelletier. Also for the Wildcats, Hallett shot a 42, while Humphrey carded a 44.