The Carlisle golf team had assumed it would be playing in Thursday’s Penobscot Valley Conference championships at JaTo Highlands in Lincoln for the right to qualify for the Oct. 7 state tournament at Natanis Golf Club in Vassalboro, but a Maine Principals’ Association ruling has forced a change of plans.
Carlisle coach Marc Weeks learned last week that his team, which is now in Class A due to the cooperative merger of Caribou and Presque Isle, instead had to compete in the Kennebec Valley Athletic Conference championships held Tuesday, Sept. 26, at Natanis.
Seth Roy of the Carlisle golf team chips the ball onto the sixth green at Caribou Country Club Friday, Sept. 18 during a regular season match. (Staff photo/Kevin Sjoberg)
“The MPA ruled that we needed to play a qualifier in a conference that had at least three Class A teams in our region,” Weeks said on Monday. “As such, we will play our team qualifier and the boys’ individual qualifier at Natanis.”
Junior Libby Boone, the lone female on the Carlisle team, faces a unique situation in which she will have two chances to qualify for the state individual girls’ tourney. Boone played with her team Tuesday and if she shot a score of 100 or lower, earned a berth into the state tourney. If she didn’t, she is allowed to compete at the PVC competition Thursday in Lincoln for another crack at qualifying.
Carlisle boys who shot a 90 or better Tuesday and finished among the top 10 overall also moved on to the individual state tourney, which is set for Oct. 14 at Natanis.
The team was hoping to qualify for the states by finishing as one of the top Class A schools. Weeks knew it would be a challenge, especially playing on a course that was unfamiliar to most of his team members, but was anxious to see what happened.
“I do not believe that our team has collectively played their best in any match,” said Weeks, whose team posted a 9-12 regular season record. “Our scoring has been fairly consistent as a team, but if you take each of our starters’ individual low score and put them together, it is 17 shots lower than our season average so the potential for us to do well is there.
“Individually, we have players who are capable of making the state tournament. We simply need to avoid the one or two bad holes, which have plagued us throughout the season, in order to be competitive,” he added.
Gabe Rand, a Caribou High School junior, leads the team with a 45 average. Presque Isle High School junior Seth Roy has posted a 46 average, while schoolmate and classmate Boone averages a 47. Noah Rosado, a CHS senior, carries a 48 average. Isaac Madore, a PIHS senior, and Brady Miller, a CHS freshman, are the only other team members averaging in the 50s.
Carlisle’s team average this season is 185.
Weeks said the merger has “gone very smoothly” and has been beneficial in being able to field a full team, which was the intent.
“The student athletes have adapted with no issues being from the two rival high schools,” Weeks said. “The merger has made it more challenging for the athletes from a logistics perspective in that there are additional bus rides and longer practices due to the fact we alternate golf courses [between Caribou Country Club and Presque Isle Country Club] for fairness.”
Results from the team’s two regular season matches last week are as follows:
Mattanawcook 172, Bucksport 182, Carlisle 183, Greenville 190 — On the golf course last last Wednesday, Carlisle took on Mattanawcook Academy, Greenville and Bucksport at JaTo Highlands in Lincoln Wednesday. Carlisle beat Greenville, but lost by a stroke to Bucksport and by 11 strokes to host MA.
Rand led Carlisle with a 43 and Roy followed with a 44. Rosado carded a 47 and Andrew Evans had a 49 for Carlisle’s total of 183 strokes. Logan Thompson of Mattanawcook was the medalist with a 36. Carlisle’s record is now 9-10 on the season.
Houlton golf 172, Hermon 173, Carlisle 181 — The Carlisle golf team hosted Houlton and Hermon Friday at Caribou Country Club. The Shires received 41s from Drew Marino, Nick Brewer and Wyatt Harvey to nip the Hawks by a stroke and Carlisle by nine.
Rand of the host Carlisle squad was the medalist with a 39. Boone shot a 46 and both Roy and Ian MacKinnon carded 48s.
Kent Johnson shot a 40 to lead Hermon.
