The Hodgdon and Southern Aroostook golf teams are both small, but scrappy squads this fall for their respective schools.
Both the Hawks and Warriors have just four golfers each on their teams, which is the minimum number of players needed to score as an official team. The two teams met on the links Tuesday, Sept. 5, for a golf match at Houlton Community Golf Course. Hodgdon emerged victorious 7.5 to 1.5.
Hodgdon’s Andrew Tuttle watches to see if his putt will go in during a golf match with Southern Aroostook Tuesday in Houlton. (Joseph Cyr)
In that match, Brian Barton was the medalist for the Hawks, as he shot a 47. Hunter Walker was the low-scorer for Southern Aroostook with a 56.
Other scorers for Hodgdon were Andrew Tuttle, 56; Nathan Tuttle, 57; and Justin Wilson, 61. For SA, Gage Rigby shot a 63, Parker Skinner finished at 68; and Arianna Rigby was 79.
Hodgdon is once again led by Mike Fleming, who is entering his sixth season with the golf program. The Hawks are without their best golfer from a year ago, Ben Tuttle, due to graduation. However, Andrew and Nathan are eager to follow in their brother’s footsteps, the coach said.
Andrew Tuttle, a junior, has played as the team’s No. 1 golfer this fall. Wilson, a senior, has shown promise in a number of matches, the coach added. Barton, a sophomore, has come on in recent matches after spending extra time on the course over the summer. Nathan Tuttle, a freshman, has potential to be a really good golfer, coach Fleming added.
“We have shown good camaraderie and the younger players have a desire to learn,” Fleming said
Warriors rebuilding
Southern Aroostook’s Gage Rigby follows his shot after a putt Tuesday at the Houlton Community Golf Course. (Joseph Cyr)
Southern Aroostook is coached this fall by Phil Faulkner, a longtime coach of a multitude of sports at Katahdin High School. Faulkner is now serving as the athletic director for Southern Aroostook Community School.
Members of the SA golf team are seniors Arianna Rigby and Hunter Walker and freshmen Gage Rigby and Parker Skinner.
Walker is a four-year golfer for SA who also is doing double-duty this fall playing soccer for the Warriors. “Hunter is our most experienced golfer, having played all four years,” Faulkner said.
“Arianna has all kinds of potential to be a really good golfer,” Faulkner added. “Our two freshmen are just learning the game.”
Hodgdon’s Brian Barton follows through on a putt Tuesday afternoon at the Houlton Community Golf Course. (Joseph Cyr)
Faulkner said he would love to see more kids playing golf, possibly with a co-op agreement with Katahdin High School.
The local golf season is incredibly short, lasting about a month. The season is already nearing completion and ends Monday, Sept. 18, with the Aroostook County Championship. That meet will be played at the Mars Hill Country Club at 9 a.m.
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- Katahdin golf coach Phil Faulkner, left, and Hodgdon coach Mike Fleming watch as their players tee off during Tuesday’s match in Houlton. (Joseph Cyr)
