That Michael Caron is a pretty good college golfer shouldn’t be surprising. After all, the St. Joseph’s College sophomore won Maine’s high school Class A individual title in his senior year at Gorham High.

It’s perhaps the level of his success this fall that is surprising – even to Caron.

For five consecutive weeks, Caron has been selected as golfer of the week in the Great Northeast Athletic Conference. He was also named the ECAC Division III co-golfer of the month for September, sharing the award with another Mainer, Jamie Jackson of Belfast, a junior at RPI.

In seven events this fall, Caron has had four medalist honors, finishing no lower than seventh. As a freshman, Caron took medalist honors twice.

“To be honest, this is a little surprising,” said the 19-year-old Caron, who is majoring in sports marketing. “I figured I had one of the best (seasons) I could have had my freshman year. I was just hoping to play as well as I did last year.

“I don’t know … my swing’s just good. And I’ve been playing a lot better all summer.”

Caron played throughout the summer in various tournaments in Maine. Jamie Smyth, the Monks coach, said the biggest difference this year is Caron’s consistency.

“Last year he’d throw in a round that wouldn’t be his typical round, an 83 or an 85,” Smyth said. “This year it’s just one great round after another. That to me has been the most impressive thing this year. Golf is hard enough to play the one time you go out.”

Caron shot a 70 in the University of New England Invitational at the Cape Arundel Golf Club in Kennebunkport last week. The 70 was the lowest 18-hole score of his career and the best by a St. Joe’s golfer since 2007.

His other medalist honors came at the UMaine-Farmington Invitational (75) at Sunday River Golf Club, the Thomas College Classic (71) at Waterville Country Club and the John Queenan Memorial (72) at St. Joe’s home course, Point Sebago Golf Resort. He is averaging 73.6 strokes per round.

Caron said his “course management” skills have improved. But mostly, he added, “I’m just going out there and having fun and not thinking about where I’m going to place or how I’m doing score-wise. That’s helping.”

He added that he’s just a smarter golfer than he was in the past. “Instead of just trying to be aggressive all the time, like last year, you’ve got to know when to take what’s in front of you.”

Caron is a captain for the Monks and Smyth said he takes that role seriously.

“Certainly all the guys look up to him and look for a great round,” he said. “That’s a lot of pressure to put on him. But he’s been more than up to the task. And he’s delivered every time we go out.”

FIELD HOCKEY

University of Southern Maine junior midfielder Allison Ward of Rockland (Oceanside) has been selected as Little East Conference defensive player of the week. Ward scored three goals for the Huskies in a 2-1 week, getting the tying goal in an eventual 2-1 overtime win at Salem State, then scoring twice in a 5-2 win over Westfield State.

• Bentley junior midfielder Kelsey Howard scored her first goal of the season to help the Falcons to a 5-0 win over Mercy College.

FOOTBALL

Bowdoin College sophomore running back Tyler Grant of Stratham, New Hampshire, received two honors. He was named the New England Football Writers’ Association Division II/III Gold Helmet award winner and the New England Small College Athletic Conference offensive player of the week after rushing for a career-high 208 yards on a school-record 43 carries in the Polar Bears’ 33-20 win over Tufts. He scored four rushing touchdowns, the first Bowdoin player to do that in a game since 1992 (Eric LaPlaca). The Gold Helmet is given to the top player in New England each week. The last time a Polar Bear won the award was in 1998.

• Bowdoin freshman kicker Andrew Sisti of Mount Vernon, New York, was named NESCAC special teams player of the week after he kicked two second-half field goals, of 30 and 34 yards, to lift the Polar Bears past Tufts. He also made a touchdown-saving tackle on a kickoff.

• Bentley junior defensive lineman Jeff Amell of Buxton (Bonny Eagle) scored a safety with a sack in the end zone in the Falcons’ 19-16 loss to American International College. Amell led Bentley with nine tackles.

HALL OF FAME

Scott Nappi and Melissa Sanborn will be inducted into the Southern Maine Community College Hall of Fame on Nov. 2. Nappi, of Portland, was a two-time Yankee Small College Conference baseball player of the year, in 2008 and 2009. He ranks first in career stolen bases, third in hits, sixth in RBI and 13th in batting average at SMCC. Sanborn, of Gorham, was a YSCC first-team softball selection in 2008 and 2009. She ranks sixth in career homers, seventh in runs and eighth in RBI at SMCC. The induction banquet will be at the Campus Center on the South Portland campus beginning at 5:30 p.m. Tickets cost $20 and can be purchased by calling 741-5927 or contacting Matt Richards at mrichards@smccME.edu.

GOLF

Bentley University junior Malcolm Oliver of Damariscotta (Lincoln Academy) shot a 77-76-153 to finish 11th and help the Falcons finish second in the 12-team Northeast Challenge. He had six birdies.

• Endicott College freshman Alex Viola of Brunswick was honored as Commonwealth Coast Conference golfer of the week after tying for first with a one-over par 70 in the UNE Invitational.

MEN’S SOCCER

University of New England senior forward Matthew Christie of Hudson, New Hampshire, was selected as the CCC offensive player of the week. He had the lone goal in a 1-0 win over Western New England – UNE’s first win over the Bears in 11 games.

• UNE senior goalkeeper Aldan McParland of Brockville, Ontario, was honored as the defensive player of the week for both Corvias ECAC Division III and the CCC after making seven saves in the 1-0 win at Western New England.

WOMEN’S SOCCER

UNE freshman forward Becca Murphy of Durham, New Hampshire, was named CCC offensive player of the week after scoring two goals in a 4-0 win at Western New England.

• UNE sophomore goalkeeper Brielle Robinson of Monson, Massachusetts, was selected as CCC defensive player of the week after making four saves in the win at WNE.

WOMEN’S TENNIS

Endicott senior Natalie Egbert of Gorham was named to the CCC all-conference first team for singles.

She was 6-2 in singles matches for the season for the top-seeded Gulls.

VOLLEYBALL

USM freshman outside hitter Jessica Williamson of Goffstown, New Hampshire, was named LEC rookie of the week. Williamson averaged 16 kills and 14 digs as USM won three non-conference matches. It is the fourth time this season she has won the honor.

• UNE senior outside hitter Leah Janelle of Madbury, New Hampshire, was named CCC player of the week after averaging 2.93 kills and 2.13 digs per set in a 2-2 week for the Nor’easters.

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