By Kevin Sjoberg
Sports Reporter
PRESQUE ISLE — The Wildcats’ varsity golf team was victorious in its first five regular season matches before falling at Houlton
Thursday. First-year head coach Daren Hunter said his players’ “team-first” approach has been vital to the squad’s excellent start.
“One of the points I always try to make with the kids is team performance before individual performance,” Hunter said. “If you perform well as a team, the individual scores will follow. Focusing on the team performance also helps us forget about a poor individual performance.”
He also said the team includes eight seniors, with many players who spend a lot of time on the course throughout the summer, playing in leagues, scrambles and individual tournaments as well.
“It’s definitely good for their games,” he said. “This all helps them prepare mentally and physically for our golf season.”
The team will have its biggest test of the season Thursday when it plays in the Penobscot Valley Conference Championships, which take place at JaTo Highlands in Lincoln. The event serves as a qualifier for the individual and team state championship tournaments to be held at Natanis Golf Club in Vassalboro next month.
Senior Michael Boone garnered medalist honors (low round overall) in each of the team’s regular season victories and has put together an excellent season, averaging 40.5 strokes per nine holes.
“One of the major improvements he made in the off-season is his confidence and mental game. I really feel the combination of being a year older and his increased role on the successful Wildcats’ basketball team last year really increased his confidence and made him more comfortable in pressure situations.” Hunter said. “His short game has also improved and this has helped his scoring average considerably.”
Jenna Hallett, a junior, averages 43 while playing from the men’s tees and is a talented player who loves the game and spent most of the summer on the course. She even captured a state junior championship.
“Jenna has very high expectations for herself and these expectations motivate her to practice and play to the best of her abilities,” Hunter said.
Senior Josh Gordon averages 44 and is consistent with the ability to drive the ball 300 yards off the tee. Liam Hughes is another senior who averages 45 but is capable of carding a low round. Classmate Karson Eaton averages 46 but has played his best golf late in the season, while fellow senior Carter LaPointe (47) has worked hard to improve his game. Freshman Hunter Flynn (48) rounds out the top seven and has also benefited from plenty of time spent on the course this summer
Seniors Mike Michaud, Brad Shields and Nick Crouse are other veterans on the Wildcat squad, while sophomore Gannon Therrien and freshman John Saucier are the other team members.
Hunter and the Wildcats are looking forward to Thursday’s PVC qualifier and Hunter is banking on the team’s past experience on the JaTo layout to pay off.
“We try to get to JATO a few times so the team gets to see the course,” Hunter said. “We take notes on the holes and try to learn how to play the course effectively.
He said there are a couple other “keys to success” in championship events such as this one.
“First and foremost, we recognize that nerves tend to run high at the qualifiers. We work hard at being mentally prepared for these nerves and try to work on strategies to negate their negative impact through the first few holes,” Hunter said. “We also know that as a team we have a very good combined scoring average. While it would be great to always have someone come in below 80, we know that is all right if that doesn’t happen because we have seven kids that can come in well below 90.”
