VASSALBORO, Maine — The Houlton golf team added another trophy to the case this past weekend as the Shires captured the state Class C golf championship.
The Shires took home the top honors with a whopping 19-stroke victory over St. Dominics at the Natanis Golf Course Saturday. The Shires fired a low score of 333 to easily distance themselves from St. Dominics’ total of 352.
Houlton’s Duncan McCormack lines up his tee shot during Saturday’s state Class C golf championship. (Courtesy of Jennifer Vega)
It marks the fifth state golf title for the Shires and first since 2009. The team finished the season with an impressive 23-3 regular season record, with its only losses coming to Mount Desert Island, which finished second in Class B.
“Going into the state’s, I really thought we had a great chance to win,” Houlton coach Dave Grant said. “Our averages have been consistent all year long and if we could just shoot our average we would be very competitive. Everyone stayed focused and played very well.”
Other team scores in Class C were: 3, North Yarmouth Academy, 366; 4, Monmouth, 376 (winner of tiebreaker); 5, Orono, 376; 6, Mattanawcook Academy, 382; 7, Winthrop, 384; 8, George Stevens Academy, 388; 9, Ashland, 459; and 10, Valley, 563.
Houlton’s roster includes seniors Nick Brewer, Wyatt Harvey, Rhetta Vega, Duncan McCormack and Ryder Graham; juniors Isaac Vega, Sydney Lorom and Matthew Seder; and freshmen Garrett Harvey, Colin Moody, Colin Avery and Kye Flewelling. The Vegas and Harveys are siblings.
At the state competition, Wyatt Harvey shot an 81 to lead all Houlton golfers. Nick Brewer was one-stroke behind at 82, followed by Isaac Vega and Moody both with an 85, while Duncan McCormack shot a 98.
Wyatt Harvey, Brewer, Isaac Vega, and Moody also qualified for the state Individual championships to be held this Saturday, also at Natanis.
“This team is a coach’s dream,” said Grant, who completed his seventh season as the Shires’ coach. “I have six with averages in the 40s [for nine holes] and six more knocking on the door, and five different medalists throughout the year. They have set the bar high for next year and we are looking good for the future.”
Percy Zentz of GSA had the lowest round in Class C as he shot a 76.
“St. Dom’s was the unknown as we weren’t able to get any of their regional scores and they are always in the top three and I knew they would be the one we had to beat,” coach Grant said. “We set three goals for the year — win our division in the PVC, win the PVC Regionals and win the Class C State Championship. We accomplished all three. It was a great year.”
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- The Houlton Shire golf team captured the state Class C championship Saturday at Natanis Golf Course in Vassalboro. It marks the fifth state golf title since 2009 for the Shires. (Courtesy of Jennifer Vega)
