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Teeing Off
The Centaurs Linda St Laurent tees off against Auburn at the Quinnatisset Country Club May 3. Photo courtesy of Joel Tretheway/The Woodstock Academy.
It was about time.
The Woodstock Academy girls’ golf team had become road warriors through the first month of the season.
All seven of their first matches were played on the road including three in a row last week in the Hartford area.
May 3, the Centaurs finally returned to home sweet home at the Quinnatisset Country Club in Thompson.
“It’s pretty nice. The girls were excited about getting back to their home course after playing a variety of different courses. Some were not that difficult, others were really difficult. All of them were wet. We’re excited about being back at home and the majority of the matches we have left will be here at Quinnatisset,” said Woodstock Academy coach Earl Semmelrock.
The Centaurs have nine matches left this season, six will be played at home, including the ECC championship on May 30.
The Centaurs clearly enjoyed a little home cooking as they put together their best score of the season versus Auburn, Mass., May 3.
Despite the very soggy conditions, the Centaurs raised their mark to 5-2 with a 196-202 victory over the Rockets.
Three players broke 50 for the Centaurs. Kailey LaChappelle was medalist with a 45 while Linda St. Laurent shot a personal best 46. Katherine Harrington chipped in with a 47.
The Centaurs needed the low scoring as Auburn also had three players finish below the 50-stroke mark.
It capped off a pretty good week for the Centaurs who split their four matches against non-league opponents.
The best showing, outside of May 3, came at the Copper Hill Golf Club in East Granby May 1.
It was the Centaurs first time breaking 200 as a team with a 199-232 win over host Suffield.
“Copper Hill is a similar course to Quinnatisset,” Semmelrock said. “It’s not that long. It’s fairly open and the greens were in good condition and we put together a pretty good performance there.”
LaChappelle shot a 47 and St. Laurent added a 49 to lead Woodstock Academy to the win. Harrington tossed in a 53.
Semmelrock said, considering the weather, the girls’ scores are pretty good.
“We haven’t had much time to practice. The (driving) range (at Quinnatisset) has not been opened. Even on the days we can practice, it’s been busy. We get five or six holes in,” Semmelrock said.
Because of the wetness, the back-9 at Quinnatisset has not been opened for play which leaves teams competing with membership for course time.
“They’re getting reps though now. This was our fifth match in a row (against Auburn) and I’m seeing progress. They are learning to think on the golf course because they are playing every day, getting nine holes in, counting a score and in pressure situations because it’s in a match. I’m seeing them respond to that,” Semmelrock said.
The Centaurs lost in their opener to the week against Glastonbury at Glastonbury Hills Golf Club, 200-225.
LaChappelle and St. Laurent again led the way with a 52 and 53, respectively. Maria Santucci checked in with a 59.
The two teams have played home-and-home matches for the last five years and Semmelrock said the greens at Glastonbury Hills are probably the fastest the Centaurs will experience this season.
“It’s nice, but it’s tough. It’s very long. The greens are hilly and tricky. They all have their challenges, five different courses in five days, you have to adjust to different green speeds. (Copper Hill) was a little slower than Glastonbury and Wampanoag,” the Woodstock Academy coach said.
The Centaurs took on Northwest Catholic and East Hartford at Wampanoag Country Club in West Hartford May 2.
It was a course that Semmelrock, an avid golfer, had not played on in some 35 years.
The Centaurs also had never played Northwest Catholic, the host team, nor East Hartford ever in the sport.
The host Indians downed the Centaurs 219-228, but Woodstock Academy got the split with a 228-292 win over the Hornets.
“It was a very hard golf course, much longer than they are used to and the scores were reflective of that,” Semmelrock said.
St. Laurent posted the best total, a 52, while Harrington carded a 58 and LaChappelle a 59.
“I’m encouraged by what I’ve seen. I don’t really care about the wins and losses because to qualify for the States, it’s just the team score against the course. We will see how we make out over the rest of the season,” Semmelrock said.
Boys Down New London
A light week for the boys. The Centaurs raised their record to 3-1-1 with a 7-0 win over New London at the Great Neck Country Club in Waterford April 30. The Centaurs finished with a 179 total, important because the ECC championship will be played at Great Neck later on in May.
Liam McDermott finished as medalist for a first time with a 41. Senior Mason Stewart was only two strokes back of McDermott while Robert Maheu carded a 47 and Owen Borski finished with a 48.
Marc Allard
Sports Information Director
The Woodstock Academy