Golf Wrap-up

Killingly 

prepares for

tourney day

By Ron P. Coderre

The regular season closed with a light schedule of play that was highlighted by the Killingly High School golfers completing a perfect season with three victories.  The Redmen, led by Drew and John Aitken then proceeded to capture the Eastern Connecticut Conference Championship.  The team is polishing its clubs and honing its game as it readies for the CIAC Tournament.

Ellis Tech and Tourtellotte also concluded their regular season on a positive note.

The Woodstock Academy girl’s team competed in the Eastern Connecticut Conference Championship at Quinnatisset Country Club and came within an eyelash of winning the title.  

On the prep school level a 9th grade female student from The Rectory School captured the NEPSAC 9-Hole Division title.

Redmen Breeze Through End of Regular

 Season & Win ECC Title

Almost as expected, Killingly won the ECC Championship, which was played at Great Neck Country Club in Waterford.  The championship, which was an 18-hole event, witnessed a couple of pleasant surprises for northeastern Connecticut players and teams.

Lanky Mike Jezierski, who had been struggling of late, put his game together and fired a two over par 74, winning medalist honors by two strokes over John Aitken (76) and three strokes over Drew Aitken (77).  Although Jezierski’s play wasn’t a total surprise as he’s been Tourtellotte’s top gun all season, the team finish by Woodstock Academy was a pleasant surprise for coach Rich Garceau. 

The Centaurs, in an unusual season struggled through a 7-12-0 year.  The team came together in the Championship with a congregate score of 345 nine strokes behind champion Killingly (336) to finish in second place.  Tourtellotte with a team score of 353 was fifth, while Plainfield finished 15th at 475.  Seth Semmelrock and Jack Neill with cards of 86 tied for 10th place in the individual competition.

In a tri-match against Tourtellotte and Norwich Free Academy at Connecticut National Golf Club, Killingly High School swept the competition beating NFA 5-2 and Tourtellotte 7-0.  John Aitken playing out of the #2 slot picked up medalist honors firing an even par 35.  Drew Aitken carded a 36, while Connor Fillmore had a 44, Nick Davis a 48 and Connor Liebscher a 47.

Earlier in the week the Redmen shutout Bacon Academy 7-0 behind Drew Aitken’s one under par 34 in a match at Connecticut National Golf Club.  The Redmen took team medal honors 161-195.  Killingly is 18-0-0 on the year and 10-0-0 in the ECC Medium Division, which won the title.

Tourtellotte ended its regular season the same way it started the 2014 competition, losing to Killingly.  Jezierski had an abnormal, for him, 40 against the Redmen.  The Tigers opened the week by beating a good Waterford team 5-2 as Jezierski was the medalist with a 39.  Tourtellotte finished the regular season with a sparkling 16-4-0 log and a perfect 10-0-0 ECC Small Division record to capture the title.

Despite a blistering two under par 33 by Putnam’s Spencer Salvas, Ellis Tech was declared the winner of the match as the Clippers only had Salvas and Nate Tozzi on the course.  Matt Snay with a 45 was the top golfer for the Eagles.  Putnam is 13-7-0, while the Techsters are 12-4-0.

NFA Slips by Woodstock Academy in ECC Championship

In a championship match that finished as closely as it possibly could, Norwich Free Academy was declared the champion as it posted a one-stroke 205-206 victory over the runner-up Centaurs.  Katie Strickland and Hannah Slocum tied for medalist honors with scores of 47.  Woodstock was well represented with Elaina Becher and Grace Yang finishing tied for 3rd with a score of 49.  Roxanne Garceau had a 50, good for a tie for 6th place.

Abigail Poirier of Tourtellotte Memorial High School competing as an individual entry finished in a tie for 9th with Eva Yu of Woodstock with scores of 55.  

Following the completion of the Championship, the ECC announced its all-star selections for 2014.  Woodstock Academy placed Garceau on the First Team.  Becher and Yang of Woodstock were accorded Honorable Mention honors along with Poirier of Tourtellotte.

Louisa Park, a 9th grade Rectory School student from South Korea, who currently lives in Pomfret, won the 9-Hole Division at the Girls’ New England Preparatory School Athletic Council (NEPSAC) High School Championship.  The event was played May 12 at Watertown Golf Club.  She was one of three girls representing middle schools competing in the championship.

“It was a great experience to learn more and a stepping stone to bigger tournaments and my high school career,” said Park.

Earlier in the year, Miss Park had a hole-in-one.  Next year she will attend Pomfret School where she plans on continuing her golf career.

RPC’s Super Standing: Killingly 18-0-0; Tourtellotte 16-4-0; Putnam 13-7-0; Ellis Tech 12-4-0; Woodstock Academy 7-12-0; Pomfret School 6-5-0; Plainfield 3-13-0; Marianapolis 2-10-0. Girls: Woodstock Academy 7-5-1.

 

..