Golfers prepare for state tourney

    Three local varsity golf teams will be making the trip to Vassalboro this weekend for the team state championship tournament, to be held at Natanis Golf Club Saturday.The Presque Isle Wildcats will compete in the Class B event. They earned a berth after qualifying at the Sept. 26 Penobscot Valley Conference championships at JaTo Highlands in Lincoln. Presque Isle shot a 354, which was the low score among all the Class B schools participating.
PI’s starters are seniors Michael Boone, Liam Hughes, Josh Gordon and Karson Eaton and junior Jenna Hallett. Boone has been the team’s top golfer throughout the season, while Hughes shot the low round for the ’Cats at the PVCs.
First-year head coach Daren Hunter said the team has been working hard during the harvest break to prepare for Saturday’s tourney.
“We work hard to walk at least 18 holes once a week,” Hunter said. “Harvest recess allows the team to put in the extra time needed to play and condition for 18 holes of golf.”
Hunter has put a twist on recent practice sessions in preparation to playing the narrow fairways at Natanis.
“To help keep things interesting, we make competitions in practice,” Hunter added. “For example, Monday we played the golf course with the rough being a one-stroke penalty and the winner gets to choose where we go to lunch when we go to states.
“This is to help work on keeping the ball safe. Natanis is a very narrow course that can really cause trouble if you are spraying the ball all over.”
Hunter thinks his team’s depth will be an advantage at this weekend’s tournament. “The entire team has the ability to put up very good scores,” he added.
“We want to go and play the course as safe and smart as possible,” Hunter said. “If we do this, we will show that we can compete with the bigger southern Maine schools. Ultimately, our goal is to best our seventh-place finish from last year.”
The Fort Fairfield Tigers are making a return trip to compete in the Class C event after having won the Aroostook League title for the fifth consecutive year. Coach Larry Gardner’s team shot a 352 at Mars Hill Country Club Sept. 20 at the league championships to pick up a 20-stroke victory.
Robbie Watson, a junior, shot a 75 to earn medalist honors at MHCC. Senior Noah Bernard was next with an 84. Jon Bernard, Jordann Coiley and Larry Warner are the other FF starters.
“The team has been playing some during break and the weather has certainly helped,” Gardner said. “We will be playing all this week after school and will play a practice round at Natanis Friday.
Gardner feels Friday’s practice round will be crucial as his team members will need to recognize the holes “that you need to hit to certain spots to avoid scoring big numbers.”
The veteran coach said Houlton, defending state champion St. Dominic’s and this year’s favorite, Winthrop, will provide the strong competition for his Tigers.
“We feel we can compete with the teams downstate and we have two of the top players in Class C (in Watson and Noah Bernard),” Gardner said. “The key will be our three through five players, who will need to play very well to give us a chance.”
The Central Aroostook Panthers will also be among the Class C competitors, thanks to their runner-up finish at the recent league meet. CA coach Adam Metzler said his team has been adversely affected by the harvest recess as two of the team’s four players work in the potato fields, which has prevented them from being able to practice regularly.
“We are practicing when we can but typically won’t have the entire team playing until our practice round for the state championship,” Metzler said.
The Panthers shot a 372 at the league championship. Junior Chandler Brewer led the way with an 88 and Alex Folsom had an 89. Kenny Bell and Zack Grass are the team’s remaining starters.
“The main thing we are working on is just keeping everything tuned up,” Metzler said. “The one thing that has kept us solid all year is consistency. They also really love the game of golf, which makes them a really fun group to coach. My hope for Saturday is for them to just play their game.”