Page 3 - Newsletter_Spring_2019

Shire Golfers Capture 2 State Championships

With Team and Individual Wins By Nancy Ketch ‘82

This story is based on articles by Joe Cyr ’89, Houlton Pioneer Times. The contents are reprinted with permission.
SPRING • 2019 TEAM WIN

The Houlton golf team added another trophy to the case on October 6, 2018 as the Shires captured the
state Class C golf championship.

The Shires took home the top honors with a
whopping 19-stroke victory over St. Dominics at
the Natanis Golf Course. The Shires fi red a low
score of 333 to easily distance themselves from
St. Dominics’ total of 352.

It marks the fi fth state golf title for the Shires and
fi rst since 2009. The team fi nished the season
with an impressive 23-3 regular season record,
with its only losses coming to Mount Desert
Island, which fi nished second in Class B.

“Going into the state’s, I really thought we had a
great chance to win,” Houlton coach Dave Grant
‘67 said. “Our averages have been consistent all
year long and if we could just shoot our average
Shire golfer Rhetta Vega ‘19 was selected Player of the Year for the
we would be very competitive. Everyone stayed Penobscot Valley Conference (PVC) at the conclusion of the season.
focused and played very well.” She is displaying her award with coach David Grant ‘67 looking on.

At the state competition, Wyatt Harvey ‘19 shot an
81 to lead all Houlton golfers. Nick Brewer ‘19 was one-stroke behind at 82, followed by Isaac Vega ‘20
and Collin Moody ‘22 both with an 85, while Duncan McCormick ‘19 shot a 98.

Wyatt Harvey, Brewer, Isaac Vega, and Moody also qualifi ed for the state individual championships that
was held the next weekend, also at Natanis.

Houlton’s roster includes seniors Nick Brewer, Wyatt Harvey, Rhetta Vega, Duncan McCormick and Ryder
Graham; juniors Isaac Vega, Sydney Lorom and Matthew Seder; and freshmen Garett Harvey, Collin
Moody, Kollin Irish and Kye Flewelling. The Vegas and Harveys are siblings.

“This team is a coach’s dream,” said Grant, who completed his seventh season as the Shires’ coach. “I
have six with averages in the 40s [for nine holes] and six more knocking on the door, and fi ve different
medalists throughout the year. They have set the bar high for next year and we are looking good for the
future.”

Other team scores in Class C were: 3, North Yarmouth Academy, 366; 4, Monmouth, 376 (winner of
tiebreaker); 5, Orono, 376; 6, Mattanawcook Academy, 382; 7, Winthrop, 384; 8, George Stevens Academy,
388; 9, Ashland, 459; and 10, Valley, 563.

Percy Zentz of GSA had the lowest round in Class C as he shot a 76.

“St. Dom’s was the unknown as we weren’t able to get any of their regional scores and they are always in
the top three and I knew they would be the one we had to beat,” coach Grant said. “We set three goals for
the year – win our division in the PVC, win the PVC Regionals and win the Class C State Championship.
We accomplished all three. It was a great year.”

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