Hawk golfers eye return to tourney

8 years ago

HODGDON, Maine — A small, but talented group of athletes comprise this year’s Hodgdon golf team that is looking to continue the team’s postseason success in recent years.

Fifth-year coach Mike Fleming is optimistic the Hawks will be able return to the state team competition for the second time in school history, but as is the case with golf, that team’s success will depend on how much individual work the athletes put in.

Members of the Hawk roster include seniors Ben Tuttle and Justin Wilson; sophomore Andrew Tuttle; and freshman Bryon Barton. The Hawks lost Lexi Emerson and Dana Brown to graduation.

Ben Tuttle enters the season as the Hawks No. 1 golfer and is looking to improve on his successful junior campaign. He has been on the golf team for all four years of high school and consistently shoots in the high 30s for nine holes.

Wilson, the team’s No. 2 golfer, averages scores in the low 40s, the coach said. Andrew Tuttle, who shoots in the mid 40s, will start the year as the No. 3 golfer but could challenge the two above him, Fleming said.

Barton, a first-year golfer, spent the most amount of time on the golf course this summer and could be a pleasant surprise, the coach said.

“I think we’re pretty strong to finish in the top two in regionals and advance to states,” Fleming said. “Last year, we struggled a bit at the end at the regionals, but that should only motivate the team.”