Academy boys' golf
team keeps it positive
Positivity.
It’s a trait that is sometimes hard to drag out of not only individuals, but teams, especially when things may not be going wonderful.
The Woodstock Academy boys’ golf team is a case in point.
The Centaurs suffered a pair of losses last week to Stonington and East Lyme.
So, coach Rich Garceau is just trying to work on his team’s mindset.
“My goal is for the Woodstock team to simply play the best golf they know how to play.  I don’t necessarily expect them to win, but I do expect them to be competitive,” Garceau said. “The past few days we have focused on playing golf with a positive mindset.  In golf nothing is absolute.  Momentum is a huge factor in the final outcome.  Positive thinking is key to turning a poor golf round into a great golf round and changing momentum.  If we stay positive we will be competitive.”
The Centaurs (7-6-1, 0-4-1 ECC Div. II) fell to the Bears, 5 ½ - 1 ½ at the Quinnatisset Country Club May 21.
The fifth player, Robert Maheu, was the only Centaur to get a full point as he downed Aidan Adams, 43-55.
Top player Mason Stewart earned the other half-point when he tied Stonington’s No. 1, Grant Hamilton, both shot a 4-over par 40.
The Centaurs had it even tougher at the Old Lyme Country Club May 22.
Woodstock Academy fell to East Lyme, 7-0.
But, despite the score, the Centaurs competed against the Vikings.
Stewart lost by only four strokes to East Lyme’s top golfer, Evan Kluge, 38-42.
Owen Borski was just a stroke behind Matt Orefice, 42-43, the battle of No. 3 golfers.
The Centaurs were playing even better May 23, only to see their match with Tourtellotte abruptly ended by the weather.
“We were on pace for our best score of the season until we had to call the match off because of lightning in the area,” Garceau said. “The boys were on pace for approximately a 164 total, which would potentially have beaten many of the favorites at the ECC tournament.  I feel good about where we are right now.”
The Centaurs will finish up the regular season this week with two matches against Tourtellotte, one May 28 and the other is a tri-match with Killingly May 29 at the Quinnatisset Country Club.
The ECC Open will then be contested May 30 at the Great Neck Country Club in New London.
“I do think East Lyme is the odds on favorite to win the ECC tournament next week,” Garceau said.  “That said, I don’t think it is inevitable.  The winner will be the team that executes their game plan the best.  We play 9-hole matches 16 times a season but one 18 holes round for our championship.  The ability to maintain focus for nearly 5 hours is hard.  Sprinters struggle in marathons.  Teams with experience in 18-hole competitive golf will have a big advantage.  Killingly, Stonington and Waterford have experienced golfers and will have a lot to say regarding the final outcome of the tournament too.  Focus and execution will win the tournament.”
Killingly actually handed East Lyme (14-1) its first loss last week.
Marc Allard
Sports Information Director
The Woodstock Academy

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