Windham varsity golf secures win after a hard week

By Matt Pascarella

At the end of a tough week, where Windham’s varsity golf team played in three consecutive matches and only one practice, the Eagles faced Westbrook at Sunset Ridge, a par 35 course in Westbrook on Friday, Sept. 11 and Windham came out on top.

Windham senior Matt Biggs chips his ball onto the green
during a prep golf match against Westbrook at Sunset 
Ridge in Westbrook on Friday, Sept. 11.
PHOTO BY MATT PASCARELLA

After nine holes, the two teams were tied at 6.5 – 6.5. The lowest five out of six scores are taken for the team total, junior Chase Gagnon’s score of 58 was not counted in the team total, but his score was used to break the tie against Westbrook’s sixth player, who shot a 65. In team stroke totals, Windham beat Westbrook 253-270.

“It’s been a rough week ... Monday was a holiday and we didn’t practice Friday,” said Windham varsity golf coach Adam Manzo. “I hadn’t seen the kids since last Thursday. They are a young group and it’s mostly freshmen and sophomores. So many of them have played so much golf up to this point that maybe a little golf fatigue is starting to set in. We’re already halfway through the season. Their attitudes have been good; we’re trying to win matches but also develop players. I think the fact that so many of the kid’s scores are so close right now is encouraging. Just to try to improve was our goal. We didn’t play great a week ago here when we played Gorham. They’re getting there, it seems to be a couple holes here and there that wrecked a couple rounds for some of the kids. Their attitudes have been great all year long; they’re really a great group of kids.”

During the match, Windham seniors Wyatt Richards shot a 48 and he earned the team 1.5 match points; Matt Biggs shot a 49 and earned the team two match points.

“I was just trying to be consistent, play well and hit the ball straight – just play simple,” said Richards. “Slow it down and not swing out of my shoes and hit the ball very far. My drives looked pretty good off the tee shots, some of my putting wasn’t the best, some chipping needs work. I can take as a learning experience to not get in your head. You can just turn (the game) around like that, so you don’t want to get in your head.”

Sophomore Hunter Pulkkinen said he wasn’t ready this match. Last time against Gorham he shot a 46 at Sunset Ridge. He said his driver was dead straight, and his chipping game was good. Putting needs work. Pulkkinen said he needs to play smarter on the 100-yard shots.

Pulkkinen shot a 50; freshman Stella Veilleux shot a 51 and also earned the team two match points, senior Braden Childs shot a 55 and Gagnon shot a 58. Windham earned an additional point to tie the match. <