Staff Writer
PRESQUE ISLE – The Wildcat golfers commence their championship tournaments this afternoon boasting a 19 strong roster and a perfect record. Penobscot Valley teams will meet at Jato Highlands Golf Course in Lincoln at 4 p.m. in the PVC team championships. A second round on Thursday will determine the qualifiers for the state championship at Vassalboro, and the ‘Cats look in top standing to drive and putt their way to the competition downstate.
AMY MICHAUD, the only female golfer for PIHS.
“I’m more than confident we’ll qualify for states,” said James York, the second-year coach of the golf team. Seven seniors make up the core of the golf-crazed team. With so much talent and potential in students of all ages York could only manage to cut two at tryouts. “All these kids put in over 50 rounds a year, there are some freshmen at the course non-stop. I can never predict who’s going to get the low score.”
The continued swapping of lowest place has negatives and positives. York has sophomores and freshmen who can step up and shoot in the 40s, which bodes well for future years. “The problem we’re having is consistency,” commented York. However, he remains optimistic about Jato with all of his golfers having played a round on the greens at least once before. They’ll have knowledge of the course, which according to York is “like putting on pavement.”
The golf program has a long history of success and support at PIHS. “We have an enormous amount of talent and dedication on this team, and it goes back years and years,” commented York. The Presque Isle Country Club allows the high schoolers easy access to the course. Barry Madore, on the board of directors at the club, also runs a youth program twice a week that produces a lot of up and coming golfers for the Cat team. Four of the students work at the course.
Two years ago, still a Class A team, PIHS missed the state title by only one stroke. Now Class B, they have a longer list of competition from downstate schools. Last year they ranked sixth at the state tournament. York knows from experience that southern teams tend to make for more difficult competition come championship time. The climate difference south of the County line gives them extra weeks of practice, while County teams often have to go out in low temperatures and work with frozen ground. However, Presque Isle seeks top spots this year. They already garnered revenge over Houlton, the defending class C state champions.
“They’ll have to think of course management,” said York, about the Jato rounds. “They need to look at the hole and figure out what they need to do … don’t need to always drive it so far.”
Lady Wildcat, senior Amy Michaud, will automatically qualify for the state championship rounds. The top female golfer in Aroostook with an average of 47, she belongs to the small group of female high school golfers in the state. Last year she ranked fourth, coming back from a summer bout with pneumonia that kept her off the practice course.
“She beats the guys most of the time … being the only girl on a 19-man squad is tough, but she can give it as much as she takes it,” said York. She also cards in the low 40s.”
Senior Matt Talbot ranks number one on the team with an average of 40. His 45 strokes at Bucksport was the first time he had shot above 41. “He’s the anchor of the team,” said York.
The number-two seat goes to senior Tyler St. Pierre who also has a consistent game and a 43 average. Sophomore Steve Ford ranks third with a 45 average.
Another senior, Nic Gallant, shoots in the low 40s. “He shoots back and forth, but he’s a very mature kid. He bounces back fairly well.”
The team lost one of their top grouped seniors, Nick Shaw, over harvest, who left for a school trip to Europe. He will attend the championships as a spectator.
Junior Dylan Collins and senior Layne Waddell round off the top nine spots with averages of 45 and 48. Other upperclassmen golfers include senior Chris Ford and sophomores Mitchell Sperrey and Keenan Eaton. Up and coming team talent include a group of five freshmen that finish off the roster: Jordan Hallett, Travis Dyer, James Bradley, Alex Tuttle and Mike McPherson.
The ‘Cats started a week of winning strokes against Bucksport on Tuesday, Sept 18 with a score of 172 under Bucksport’s 197.
“It was a good match at a long and challenging course,” said York, “especially given the fact that my players had never played there before. As with most of our matches, it was very tough to predict who would come in as the four low scorers.”
Humphrey medaled for the first time this season on the par 37 course at Bucksport with a 41 beating Talbot by four strokes. Other top Wildcat standings included: Michaud (42), Collins (44), St. Pierre (44), Talbot (45), Steve Ford (48) and Waddell (48).
On their home links on Thursday, Presque Isle kept their winning record on the par 36 course beating Mattanawcook Academy, 170-186. Talbot medaled just two strokes above par with a 38. The rest of the Wildcats shot in the 40s range: St. Pierre (44), Steve Ford (45), Gallant (44), Humphrey (44), Michaud (48), Collins (44), Waddell (46) and Sperrey (46).
The seniors on the team had the opportunity to show off their experience at their last home matchup on Monday, which coincided with Presque Isle’s Senior Day. They faced the Millinocket Stearns on the fairways of the Presque Isle Country Club and carded winning numbers for a score of 169-198.
Talbot finished off his regular season with another medal at 39. York believes he is one of the top players in the state.
The other ‘Cats all put in total strokes below 50 despite 20 mile per hour winds. Only Stearns golfers Dan MacKenzie (45) and Rich Gilman (49) could boast the same numbers. The Wildcat golfers included: St. Pierre (45), Steve Ford (48), Humphrey (49), Gallant (43), Michaud (48), Waddell (42) and Chris Ford (48).
The team has refocused on their tournament at Jato this Thursday against Searsport and Foxcroft, both of whom they have yet to meet in competition.
“Being unbeaten we’re optimistic but not going into it too cocky,” noted York.
Contributed photo/Jeremiah Sjoberg WILDCAT Matt Talbot willing in a putt during a recent match at the Presque Isle Country Club. Talbot is the top golfer for the ‘Cats.
