Wildcat golfers pick up first win
in preparation for PVCs
PRESQUE ISLE, Maine — The team’s first victory of the season didn’t come until Monday, but the Presque Isle Wildcats garnered some much-needed confidence entering Thursday’s Penobscot Valley Conference Championships, slated for JaTo Highlands in Lincoln.
“Our top five players’ games are coming together and on any given day could come together to do something special,” said the team’s coach, Daren Hunter. “We know they will all have to play their best to qualify as a team. At an event where pressure runs high, we will be taking a ‘nothing to lose’ attitude and hope the team can turn in a strong score.”
Junior Hunter Flynn is the unquestioned leader and has a great chance to qualify for the state individual championships Oct. 17. He will need to place among the top 20 golfers Thursday to shoot an 89 or lower and brings in an impressive season resume, medaling in several matches, averaging 39 strokes during his nine-hole matches and turning in low scores of 37 at Pine Hill in Brewer and at Houlton Country Club.
“Hunter has plenty of confidence on the golf course, giving him a strong mental game which is paramount to the game of golf,” said his coach.
Coach Hunter said the team’s goal is to qualify at least one other golfer for the individuals, which will be held at Natanis Golf Club in Vassalboro.
The team championship is set for Oct. 10, also at Natanis.
After Flynn, senior Gannon Therrien and junior John Saucier are the team’s top golfers. Saucier registered a career-best 43 in a match against Houlton, followed that up with a 45 and is starting to play his best golf of the season. Therrien had a breakout performance in Monday’s win over Caribou, carding a 40.
The other five Wildcats, all relatively new to the sport, have all worked hard to improve their games. Freshmen Libby Boone, Rebecca Collins and Seth Roy join junior Ian Tuttle and sophomore Isaac Madore on the roster.
Hunter is proud of the way his team closed out the season after an 0-8 start.
“This is a great group of kids. They have worked hard all season to improve and that culminated into the win,” Hunter said. “These players will do anything I ask of them and really want to do their best.”
Presque Isle had a busy final week leading into Thursday’s PVCs. Last Wednesday, Flynn was the medalist with a 40 in a 15-stroke loss to Houlton. On Friday, PI and Houlton made the trip to Caribou and just eight strokes separated the three squads. The Wildcats had a 185, with Flynn’s 39 and Saucier’s 45 leading the way.
In Monday’s victory over the Vikings, Flynn again took medalist honors with a 38, with Therrien just two strokes back.
