Shire players qualify for state individual play on Oct. 19 in Natanis
LINCOLN, Maine — The Houlton Shiretowners’ golf team is heading to the state team tourney and four members of the squad will also compete in the individual state championships following Thursday’s qualiying event held at JaTo Highlands in Lincoln.
Last year, Houlton claimed the Class C state runner-up trophy.
“I figured we would get back to the state tournament,” said Houlton coach David Grant. “We are very competitive. The future really looks good for the program over the next few years.”
Grant sees defending Class C champion St. Dom’s as the team to beat again in the state tourney.
Houlton had the low round among Class C teams at Thursday’s Penobscot Valley Conference championship, scoring a 354. The Shires join George Stevens Academy of Blue Hill (372) and Mattanawcook (373) as the ‘C’ teams advancing to the states.
The top individuals for Houlton were Cameron J. Clark, who carded an 80, and Ryan Dee, who posted an 85.
Other Houlton scores included Parker Brewer, 93; Garrett Putnam, 97; Cameron E. Clark, 101; Kyle Bouchard and Caleb Tribou each with 107.
Piper Flewelling and Lexi Emerson came in at 106 and 107, respectively, to qualify for the schoolgirl state tourney.
Both state tourneys will take place at Natanis Golf Club in Vassalboro. The team tournament is Oct. 12 and the individual tourney is Oct. 19.
The Houlton High School golf team comprises two juniors — Cameron J. Clark and Bouchard — nine sophomores — Dee, Putnam, Brewer, Cameron E. Clark, Aaron Sewell, Billy Phillips, Emerson, Flewelling and Jacob Brown; and two freshmen — Tribou and Owen Gallop.
The team had graduated Cole McLaughlin and Alex Donovan from last year’s team and Lucas Peabody, who chose not to play this season.
Grant credits the Junior Golf Program at the Houlton Community Country Club as a great feeder system for the golf program in Houlton. Grant works with Bruce Nason, Houlton athletic director, throughout the summer with young players teaching them the game of golf, technique, strategy, while improving their skills.
“It wasn’t pretty and the scores were not very low,” said Grant of Thursday’s PVC and regional outing, but the good news, the Shiretowners are advancing to the state tourney for a second year in a row.
