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Huskies Came Out Swinging
The varsity golf team travelled to Lochmere CC to take on the Tilton Rams. The Tilton School golf team was holding their senior match so they asked if we would bring eight players. Since the Huskies are hungry for golf, we were happy to oblige. Only the numbers one through six would have points attached to their matches. The last foursome would be more for practice and fun. The temperature was in the mid 60’s under a partly cloudy sky with a slight breeze. A near perfect afternoon for 9 holes of golf.
For a coach, waiting on the final green for the match’s to come in, the best case scenario would be a clean sweep in the first group, and two points from second group. Although its possible for the first three players to close out the team match, its not often that it happens. Friday evening, that’s exactly what the numbers one two and three did.
Teeing off in the one and two spots were long time friends, teammates, and playing partners Mark and Jack.
Both captains showed up with an axe to grind, and they chose to grind it out on the course. They came to play.
Mark hopped out to an early lead on the first, and never looked back. He went on to win the next four holes and closed out the match on the fifth hole, 5 and 4. That’s a, no messing around match. And when you add on it that he shot even par, well, that’s about the equivalent of throwing a no hitter. Mark chose not to have an even par round of 35 the conventional way, 9 pars. Instead he decided to throw 3 pars, 3 birdies, and 3 bogeys on his scorecard. Shooting even par that way can be an exhausting round of golf, both mentally and physically. Its kind of like playing a match against yourself. Just like the old saying goes, the middle of the fairway is the boring spot to be in, shooting par with all pars is the boring way to shoot even. Well played round by the co captain.
In the number two spot was Jack. Jack also decided to go out and say enough is enough. In recent weeks the co captains scores have been trending lower, and the coach’s, along with Jack, have been anticipating all of his shots to start to come together in the same round. Friday, they did. Jack carded a very impressive 2 over par 37. Firing off seven pars and two bogies, Jack went on to win by taking a commanding three up after three lead against his opponent, and kicked it in to defensive and smart shot selection mode. When you get out to a lead like that its important to play conservative and not let any mistakes enter the chat. Opponents that fall back that many holes are just looking for an opening to strike back and cut into the lead. Match play is all about momentum. Jack kept that momentum going, closing out the match on seventh hole, 4 and 2. Well played round by the co captain. Together the captains locked up three points.
Taking the tee in the second pairing was Eli and Matt.
Eli also showed up ready to drop the hammer. Carding a solid and impressive round of 4 over par,39, Eli halved the first two holes and then went on to win the third and fourth. Once that happened, the veteran knew what to do. Keep the pressure on by making smart shot selections and executing them to the best of his ability. Do that and there’s a good chance you’ll win the match. With Eli’s stellar play, he was able to win his match and contribute in a big way to winning the best ball point. Interestingly enough, when asked how everyone felt after our warmups, the 1, 2, and 3 starters all said , not good. Coach responded by saying, that’s usually when we shoot our best. They certainly proved the coach right on this one!
In the number four spot was Matt. Matts opponent decided to have a day like Eli. Firing off a 39, the Ram held off Matt from ever really gaining any momentum. Matt led the match on two different holes, as did his opponent. But when they came to ninth tee, Matt found himself down one with one to play. After Matts opponent threw a dart for an approach shot to the final green, he knew he was going to have to make birdie on the final hole to have a chance at winning the hole to tie the match. It wasn’t meant to be on this day though. Matt carded a very respectable round, 42, and won two holes in the best ball match to help contribute to winning that point. No one person can win the team match by themselves, and they cant lose it by themselves. Our wins are a result of everyone contributing what they can, when they can.
Teeing off in the final group that had points at stake were Colin and Sean.
Had one of the players in front of Colin not won their match, it wasn’t going to be a problem. When Colin came off the ninth green he said to the coach, with a big smile, I played awful, but I won my match. Colin has been on the varsity team for two years now, so he knows, its not the score you post, its, did you win more holes than your opponent? We all want to go out and shoot the lowest score we ever shot every time we play, however, that’s not the frame of mind to have in match play format. You go out there and pick away at the course, one hole at a time. Match play is all about offense, and defense. If you try to get too aggressive with your shots when you don’t need to, you will then start to make errors. And that’s how you let a competitor back in the match. Colin has really turned into a match play mechanic this season, which is why he has been in the 5 spot almost every match. He brings a lot of experience and advice for the six spot player, that has had a different team member playing in it most every match.
Sean took the helm in the 6 spot. Sean learned the meaning of a “ buzzsaw “ in match play. When he came off the green he said, coach, there wasnt anything I could do, he just kept winning holes.! This most certainly drew a smile from the coach, because, we’ve all been there. Seans opponent fired off a round that is usually seen in the front of the lineup, a 39. Any given day, any one of us, can show up to the course and have ourselves “a day “, today was Seans opponents day. Unfortunately we did not get the memo in time to Sean and by the time he found out, his match was over. Sean shot a round of 45, which on most any other day, would be a competitive score in the 6 spot.
In the last group was Grady and Ray. Two team veterans that have been steadily lowering their scores to where they know they can be. By the looks of their scorecards, they’ll be making a push to see more action in team match’s in the next couple weeks. Grady shot 47 and Ray carded a 45.
We have a busy week upcoming with three match’s, Monday, Wednesday and Saturday, with a practice 9 mixed in on Thursday. With our home course now open for the season, the Huskies plan on cramming as much golf in as we can in the next three weeks.
Back
For a coach, waiting on the final green for the match’s to come in, the best case scenario would be a clean sweep in the first group, and two points from second group. Although its possible for the first three players to close out the team match, its not often that it happens. Friday evening, that’s exactly what the numbers one two and three did.
Teeing off in the one and two spots were long time friends, teammates, and playing partners Mark and Jack.
Both captains showed up with an axe to grind, and they chose to grind it out on the course. They came to play.
Mark hopped out to an early lead on the first, and never looked back. He went on to win the next four holes and closed out the match on the fifth hole, 5 and 4. That’s a, no messing around match. And when you add on it that he shot even par, well, that’s about the equivalent of throwing a no hitter. Mark chose not to have an even par round of 35 the conventional way, 9 pars. Instead he decided to throw 3 pars, 3 birdies, and 3 bogeys on his scorecard. Shooting even par that way can be an exhausting round of golf, both mentally and physically. Its kind of like playing a match against yourself. Just like the old saying goes, the middle of the fairway is the boring spot to be in, shooting par with all pars is the boring way to shoot even. Well played round by the co captain.
In the number two spot was Jack. Jack also decided to go out and say enough is enough. In recent weeks the co captains scores have been trending lower, and the coach’s, along with Jack, have been anticipating all of his shots to start to come together in the same round. Friday, they did. Jack carded a very impressive 2 over par 37. Firing off seven pars and two bogies, Jack went on to win by taking a commanding three up after three lead against his opponent, and kicked it in to defensive and smart shot selection mode. When you get out to a lead like that its important to play conservative and not let any mistakes enter the chat. Opponents that fall back that many holes are just looking for an opening to strike back and cut into the lead. Match play is all about momentum. Jack kept that momentum going, closing out the match on seventh hole, 4 and 2. Well played round by the co captain. Together the captains locked up three points.
Taking the tee in the second pairing was Eli and Matt.
Eli also showed up ready to drop the hammer. Carding a solid and impressive round of 4 over par,39, Eli halved the first two holes and then went on to win the third and fourth. Once that happened, the veteran knew what to do. Keep the pressure on by making smart shot selections and executing them to the best of his ability. Do that and there’s a good chance you’ll win the match. With Eli’s stellar play, he was able to win his match and contribute in a big way to winning the best ball point. Interestingly enough, when asked how everyone felt after our warmups, the 1, 2, and 3 starters all said , not good. Coach responded by saying, that’s usually when we shoot our best. They certainly proved the coach right on this one!
In the number four spot was Matt. Matts opponent decided to have a day like Eli. Firing off a 39, the Ram held off Matt from ever really gaining any momentum. Matt led the match on two different holes, as did his opponent. But when they came to ninth tee, Matt found himself down one with one to play. After Matts opponent threw a dart for an approach shot to the final green, he knew he was going to have to make birdie on the final hole to have a chance at winning the hole to tie the match. It wasn’t meant to be on this day though. Matt carded a very respectable round, 42, and won two holes in the best ball match to help contribute to winning that point. No one person can win the team match by themselves, and they cant lose it by themselves. Our wins are a result of everyone contributing what they can, when they can.
Teeing off in the final group that had points at stake were Colin and Sean.
Had one of the players in front of Colin not won their match, it wasn’t going to be a problem. When Colin came off the ninth green he said to the coach, with a big smile, I played awful, but I won my match. Colin has been on the varsity team for two years now, so he knows, its not the score you post, its, did you win more holes than your opponent? We all want to go out and shoot the lowest score we ever shot every time we play, however, that’s not the frame of mind to have in match play format. You go out there and pick away at the course, one hole at a time. Match play is all about offense, and defense. If you try to get too aggressive with your shots when you don’t need to, you will then start to make errors. And that’s how you let a competitor back in the match. Colin has really turned into a match play mechanic this season, which is why he has been in the 5 spot almost every match. He brings a lot of experience and advice for the six spot player, that has had a different team member playing in it most every match.
Sean took the helm in the 6 spot. Sean learned the meaning of a “ buzzsaw “ in match play. When he came off the green he said, coach, there wasnt anything I could do, he just kept winning holes.! This most certainly drew a smile from the coach, because, we’ve all been there. Seans opponent fired off a round that is usually seen in the front of the lineup, a 39. Any given day, any one of us, can show up to the course and have ourselves “a day “, today was Seans opponents day. Unfortunately we did not get the memo in time to Sean and by the time he found out, his match was over. Sean shot a round of 45, which on most any other day, would be a competitive score in the 6 spot.
In the last group was Grady and Ray. Two team veterans that have been steadily lowering their scores to where they know they can be. By the looks of their scorecards, they’ll be making a push to see more action in team match’s in the next couple weeks. Grady shot 47 and Ray carded a 45.
We have a busy week upcoming with three match’s, Monday, Wednesday and Saturday, with a practice 9 mixed in on Thursday. With our home course now open for the season, the Huskies plan on cramming as much golf in as we can in the next three weeks.
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