Fair Haven joins BBA at golf states
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Mount Abraham's Greg Scott follows the flight of an approach shot at Rutland Country Club on Tuesday, when he posted a 1-over par 71 to win medalist honors at the Division II Southern Sectionals. ALBERT J. MARRO / RUTLAND HERALD |
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By Bob Fredette Staff Writer - Published: June 3, 2009
Going to the state championship match is a regular thing for Paul Kelly. For Bill Van Liew, it's as new as his tenure as Fair Haven Union High School golf coach.
The Slaters narrowly tucked themselves into the runner-up slot at the Division II Southern Sectionals at Rutland Country Club on Tuesday as they advanced to next week's finals in Middlebury.
And what a race it was for second behind Kelly's defending state champion Burr and Burton Bulldogs. While BBA won the sectional crown at 347, Fair Haven scored 383 to best the final state qualifier, Randolph (384). Mount Abraham followed at 385, then Otter Valley at 388, Woodstock at 392 and Mill River at 435.
"It's great. They're good kids. They're practicing and playing hard," said Van Liew, who took over the Fair Haven program this year. "I actually thought we could score a little better than they did but everybody thought that."
Playing in the wind on a Rutland track that features very fast greens, the Slaters were led by Jeremy Fowler's 87 (par is 70). The scores were higher than usual for an RCC sectional but the focus at this level is on advancing at whatever cost.
The medalist was Mount Abraham's Greg Scott with a 1-over 71. Scott and teammate Mike Sundstrom (78) will compete at the states as individuals.
The southern contingent will be joined by three northern qualifiers at Ralph Myhre Golf Course next Wednesday.
"I don't now a lot about the northern teams," said Van Liew, a Neshobe Golf Club member and a very respectable stick himself. "But it doesn't matter what we know about them. I would like (us) to shoot 360 today – four 90s – so I would set that as a goal, but I'm not worried about other things."
Burr and Burton won last year's state title by three shots over Harwood, whose 2009 team is rebuilding.
Casey Komline played a big part in that victory and Tuesday led BBA with a 79, with Oliver Adams' 86 the next-best score.
"There's plenty to work on this week," said Kelly. "But the boys have been playing well all year. I definitely need to get up to Middlebury and let some of the younger kids see the course."
It's youth that most excites Kelly about his program.
"We had 24 kids on the team this year, seven of them freshmen that love the game so, that's what I'm most excited about," he said.
Komline played well above his season's average score (37 for nine holes) because of a faulty swing. He made double bogey on No. 7 and tripled the 8th, then steadied himself and played his final 10 holes at 2-over par. Komline adjusted his stance and takeaway and suddenly, his game was back in gear.
"I had tried everything else," he said.
Scott enjoyed his best round of the year and his best-ever at Rutland, where he finished tied for 30th in last year's Vermont Amateur.
In two previous Sections appearances at Rutland he shot 83 and 77, but had a 73 during last year's Am. "That week was very special," he said.
Scott was impressive in Tuesday's breezy conditions, firing solid irons through the wind and hitting 11 greens. When he missed, he was often on the aprons.
The highlight of the round was a birdie on the par-4 8th, where he hit his 8-iron approach along the inside of the tree line out of the right rough to within 8 feet of the pin. His best save came on the par-5 13th, where he coaxed in a dangerous, 3-foot putt from above the hole.
"This was nice," he said of the round. "I've been streaky and it's good to play a round like that here."
Now he'll try to take that level of play to Ralph Myhre, his home course.
Complete results can be found in the Scoreboard section.
bob.fredette@rutlandherald.com
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