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Boys’ Golf
Centaurs
hope to pick
up where they
left off
Sun and green grass. It does a lot for the soul especially that of a golfer.
“One hundred percent,” Woodstock Academy senior Davis Simpson said in agreement while standing on the deck of the clubhouse overlooking the ninth hole at the Woodstock Golf Course last week. “As someone who participates in a winter sport, too, I’m kind of sad to see it pass through the seasons but it’s golf season now and we’re focused on this.”
Simpson’s winter season was a victim of nature. He was a member of the Alpine ski team which had to rely on man-made rather than natural snow for much of the season.
“I went out and played (the) Raceway (golf course in Thompson) about three weeks ago and that was really early. I was like, ‘It’s March 8th and I’m playing golf. This is really nice.’ The weather has been absolutely amazing,” the senior added.
Being out on the course beats being inside learning rules or inside the gym hitting into nets.
It makes the playing field a bit more level with those teams from the southern part of the state.
“My biggest gripe with spring golf has been the lack of parity for everyone to get on the course at the same time throughout the state. There are, generally, two different climates this time of year in Connecticut. I know when I talk to the coaches down at East Lyme and Fitch, they are already out there playing and, sometimes, we still have several inches of snow on the courses and we’re waiting for them to dry out. I have a really ambitious, eager group of kids this year and now, I have the ability to put them on the golf course, too,” said Woodstock Academy coach Rich Garceau.
It’s true the Centaurs’ home course, Quinnatisset Country Club in Thompson, has yet to open but the team can practice at Woodstock in the meantime.
They will also have time once it does open.
Woodstock was supposed to begin the season this week but its matches against East Lyme on the road and Waterford at home have both been postponed until later in the season. It means the Centaurs will not begin their season until they play at Fitch in Groton following vacation on April 18 and their first home match isn’t until April 27.
Woodstock is also coming off a strong finish to its 2022 season.
The Centaurs finished 10-9 overall but placed second in the ECC championship tournament.
They followed that up with a ninth-place finish in the CIAC Division I state championship tournament.
“It’s definitely going to be tough to repeat that this year with no Kyle (Brennan) and no Chris (Thibault), but the boys are going to put in some hard work and we’re going to give it our best shot,” Simpson said.
The senior will be a key.
Simpson was generally the No. 2 man on the team between Brennan and Thibault and was one of the vocal leaders a year ago.
“He’s our No. 1 going into the season. He has the experience; he has the confidence, and the game to back it up. Having him anchor that No. 1 spot helps pull the other kids along who may not have the skills he does,” Garceau said. “Davis is also a very good leader whether it’s around the school or on the team, he’s willing to take charge. I think they respect him for that.”
Garceau said that was even true of last year when Simpson usually began the chats on the bus to matches discussing how to play certain courses.
The Centaurs will also have Anthony Listro, Landen Kuchy, Don Sousa and Logan Rawson back from last year’s varsity team.
Newcomers to the varsity include Alec Nunes, Aidan O’Connor, Curtis Lefebvre, Logan Edwards, Braiden Saucier, Abdullah Choudhry and Luke Thompson.
“I know Landen, Don and Logan can all step up as can I. It’s not about replacing Kyle and Chris, it’s about finding a new team and we’re going to work with what we have,” Simpson said.
He added his biggest focus is on the short stick as he thought putting was one of his weakest attributes.
Although working on putting in March, in New England, is not easy as the greens are hardly what they will be in May and June.
“I have a good returning group. Losing Chris and Kyle, who were playing great at the end of last season and I was very happy for them, is tough. They were great kids and I enjoyed having them. My returners have played a lot of golf over last summer which is what high school golfers should do. They just didn’t let their clubs gather dust. I have a lot of freshmen this year, nine or 10, some who are new to the game and have never played, but they have athleticism and if they put their mind to it, will learn the game. I also have a few freshmen who have played for a number of years,” Garceau said.
The Centaurs will need that as they compete in Division I of the ECC with Norwich Free Academy, Fitch and East Lyme.
“I think the whole division will be competitive this year. (Returning league champion) Killingly is going to be strong. I think they’re pretty much returning everyone who played in last year’s tournament but we were competitive with Killingly last year. They deserved to win but we were hanging around and we have some kids this year who are showing work ethic, athleticism, and knowledge of the game, I think we’re going to have a good season,” Garceau said.
Marc Allard
Director of Sports Information
The Woodstock Academy
Davis Simpson, left, and Don Sousa work on their putting stroke in an early season practice round at the Woodstock Golf Course. Photo by Collin Hamilton.
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