Golf team swings to success

%28From+left+to+right%29+Seniors+Kevin+Hatton%2C+Kevin+Reale%2C+Max+Ratner%2C+Adam+Genga%2C+Michael+Scorzelli%2C+and+John+Patterson+are+proud+of+the+accomplishments+their+team+made+this+season.+

Courtesy Kevin Reale

(From left to right) Seniors Kevin Hatton, Kevin Reale, Max Ratner, Adam Genga, Michael Scorzelli, and John Patterson are proud of the accomplishments their team made this season.

Riley Garand, Staff Writer

The golf team has had a tremendous season, winning the Mid-Wach A league and advancing to States where they finished fifth, thanks to their recent success at Districts.

“We finished second in Districts to St. John’s 316 to 319,” coach Bob Cullen said. “Matt Umphrey and Kevin Hatton lead us with 79’s, Kevin Reale had 80, Jack Tobin had 81, Max Ratner had 83 and Casey Leonard had 95.”

“The top three teams qualify for States which is Monday [October 31],” senior and captain Kevin Hatton said a few days before States.

The motivation of doing well at States was a mutual goal among the team.

“We as a team had a few goals over the season, one of them was to never lose at home, win districts, and have a chance to win States,” senior Max Ratner said.  

“We fell just short of our goal of winning the Central Mass tournament but looking forward to states where we think we have a chance,” Cullen said a few days before States.

“We hope to improve on our record last year from the state tournament,” senior co-captain Kevin Reale said before States.

A huge contribution of the the high success on the green comes from not only the seniors, but also the juniors and sophomores.

“We’ve had some of the best [team] scores in Algonquin history,” Cullen said. “The season really couldn’t have gone any better… Matt Umphrey has a tiny lead for scoring average for the whole season on Kevin Reale and Jack Tobin, who are tied for second,” Cullen said. “A close fourth is Kevin Hatton with Max Ratner and Casey Leonard right behind him.”

After an early loss in the beginning of the season against Wachusett, 198 – 200, the players’ dedication to advance to Districts and States has only developed more.

“We lost the first one [during the season] which was tough because we had just such high expectations,” Reale said. “ I think it has just served as motivation for the rest of the season and it has just inspired us to be better.”

“That made us think like alright, we have to really commit… that was just a bad day, none of us played our A game it was kind of just a rough round,” sophomore Jack Tobin said. “That was our only game like that all year.”

The team was able to get their win in against them later in the season.

“We were able to take Wachusett down later on,” Umphery said. “They gave us our first loss this year which was difficult, but we were able to overcome that.”

The talent on the team has helped them pull through with an impressive record this year.

“They are very talented, probably better than any team around,” Cullen said. “They’re pulling to their potential. It’s just really has been a dream season it really has.”

Although golf is known as an individual sport, as a team they help support each other and work together to reach success.

“We clicked as a group and we really have a group of outstanding players and we really just came together this year,” Hatton said.

“I do think that we work well together,” Ratner said. “We always have, part of it’s the coaching and a lot of it is that we just get along well, and we are all just great friends.”