Leavitt’s Jade Haylock chips out of a bunker during the Kennebec Valley Athletic Conference golf qualifier Tuesday at Natanis Golf Course in Vassalboro. Haylock shot 5-under 67 in the KVAC qualifier and is seeking her third straight Class B championship. Joe Phelan/Kennebec Journal
The usual suspects will be at it again in the Class A golf state championships.
Class B, however, will see a changing of the guard.
The golf championships were originally scheduled for Friday and Saturday at Natanis Golf Course in Vassalboro, but Saturday’s forecast of rain caused the Maine Principals’ Association to move the Class A and Class C championships to Monday. Class B will be played Friday on the Tomahawk course. The Class A competition is also on the Tomahawk course, and Class C players will battle on the Arrowhead course.
In Class A, all signs point toward the same teams that fought for the title last year being best positioned to contend again. Defending champion Brunswick, which has five of its top six players back from last year, hasn’t buckled under the weight of expectations. The Dragons went undefeated this season, won the KVAC shootout to clinch a state championship berth, then shot 311 for the best score at the KVAC Class A qualifier on Tuesday.
Coach Mike Routhier said it was encouraging to see his team remain dialed in, even with a tournament bid wrapped up and nothing more to play for.
“In some ways, it was kind of like a practice round, but you still want to play well and get some momentum, get some confidence,” he said. “That was the message a few times. Keep grinding. If you have a bad hole, keep grinding. It goes a long ways.”
Brunswick’s depth was a strength in the qualifier. The Dragons got 76s from their top two of Will Farschon and Charlie Austin, and also from Brayden Grant in the fifth spot.
“It seems like the five guys come up pretty big for us,” Routhier said. “The urgency is there. It’s our final week, we’re not playing next week, so we’ve got to get it done.”
Will Farschon leads a deep Brunswick team seeking to repeat as Class A champion. Gregory Rec/Staff Photographer
Once again, Brunswick will have to fend off an SMAA threat led by Scarborough, Falmouth and Thornton Academy. Falmouth, which tied for second last year, had the best score at the SMAA qualifier at 317, six shots clear of Scarborough. The Navigators have a potential individual champion in Johnny Hwang, who shot 77 in the qualifier. Dante Iannetta (79), Clayton Casey (80), Isaac Laliberte (81) and Anthony Graceffa (82) also fared well on the same course they’ll be playing Monday.
Scarborough flirted with the state title last season, tying for second, and has the pieces to get over the hump this time. Marc Twombly, the medalist last year with a 69, is coming off of a 77 in the qualifier, and Harrison Griffiths (79) and Keenan Buteau (80) have mid-70s potential.
Thornton Academy was just one shot behind Scarborough in the qualifier and had the medalist in Jack DeLeo (76). Gorham, Greely, Cheverus and Messalonskee are also led by players who could shoot par or better.
“The formula is to have three scores in the 70s, and hopefully the fourth score is close to 80. Breaking 320, you have a chance,” Red Storm Coach Mike Murphy said. “Each kid has to take care of their own business. It’s very comforting to know you’ve got kids that can break 80, but golf’s a funny game.”
In Class B, Leavitt junior Jade Haylock is seeking her third straight girls’ state championship and shot a stunning 5-under 67 in the KVAC qualifier. Freeport senior Eli Spaulding is the two-time defending boys’ champion, having edged Gardiner’s Jack Quinn last year by one stroke to win the title.
“I’m super excited, especially with it being kind of the last hurrah,” Spaulding said. “I’ve put in so much work every day. … To have that pay off just feels so good.”
There will be a new team champion as 2022 champion Leavitt didn’t qualify. After missing the team tournament the last two years, Freeport is in good position to challenge for its second title in four years. Led by Spaulding (72) and Carter Costello (81), Freeport (332) edged Yarmouth for first place in the WMC qualifier at Natanis by seven shots.
Freeport senior Eli Spaulding is the reigning New England high school champion and has won the Class B championship the past two years. Derek Davis/Staff Photographer
“It definitely adds to the excitement for me. The last few years felt kind of weird,” Spaulding said of not having his whole team competing. “Now that we have a team that’s competitive and in the running. … It just makes things more exciting. There’s a lot more that can happen.”
While Freeport and Yarmouth are strong, they’ll receive a challenge from KVAC Class B champion Nokomis, which shot 329 in the qualifier at Arrowhead, as well as Cony (336), Lawrence (336) and Gardiner (342).
A commitment to a middle school program five years ago helped Nokomis, anchored by Alex Grant (77) and SJ Welch (74), boost its numbers and return to the tournament for the first time since a runner-up finish in 2017.
“I think the teams that win it usually have that good depth, and we have some depth. … That’s what’s been the difference,” Nokomis Coach Matt Brown said. “We did have some lean years. … It makes it a little bit sweeter, and I think we’ve got a shot this year.”
Reigning Class C champion Maranacook carries momentum into the state meet after winning the MVC championship. Wyatt Folsom (77) leads the Black Bears, who had five players break 90. MCI’s Owen Moore is back to defend his individual boys’ championship.
UPDATE: This story was corrected on Oct. 9 at 10:14 a.m. to show that Freeport High’s Eli Spaulding defeated Gardiner’s Jack Quinn by one stroke to win the 2022 Class B individual golf title.
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