VASSALBORO, Maine — The Caribou Vikings had a strong showing on the challenging Tomahawk course at Natanis Golf Course Saturday, compiling a score of 344 to place sixth out of 12 Class B teams at the state team championships.
Coach Shawn Savage said that even though three of the Viking golfers were making their debut on the course, the scores were impressive.
Brothers Dayne and Donovan Savage led the way with 81s, while Tyler Dombroski and Katie Pelletier both shot 91s and Connor Plourde came in with a 106.
“I was more than pleased with our kids’ performance,” said the coach. “If you had told me going into the match that that is what we would shoot, I would have taken it.”
He added that both of his sons “walked away feeling like they left four or five strokes on the course” and both, along with Dombroski and Pelletier, are looking forward to the state individuals to be played this weekend. The Savages and Dombroski get another crack at the Tomahawk course, while Pelletier will play at Arrowhead — the course she has played her previous three times as a state qualifier.
“If the weather cooperates, I expect our four qualifiers to make a run at their best scores there,” Savage said. “They’ve worked hard all off-season and in and that’s all a coach can ask.”
Camden Hills ended up taking the team title with a 313, with Cape Elizabeth next with a 327 and Maine Central Institute third with a 329. Old Town and Erskine were next, while Caribou finished ahead of Fryeburg Academy, Gardiner, Lake Region, Mount Desert Island, York and Oak Hill.
In Class C, the Fort Fairfield Tigers placed seventh out of 12 teams with a 378 on the day. Playing at Arrowhead, Robbie Watson paced the team with a 73 and Jon Bernard and Carter Bruce both had 95s. Vincent Campbell carded a 115.
“My kids did a very nice job under very cold conditions and playing under the pressure of a state championship,” said Tiger coach Larry Gardner.
He added that Watson, who had the third lowest score among golfers in the division, was exceptional, but noted that two errant swings cost him about five strokes and prevented him from being even with Taylor Morang of Winthrop, who came in with a 68, which was the low score in Class C.
Winthrop was the champion with a 315 and St. Dominic’s had a 324 and Houlton a 326. Mattanawcook Academy, Madison and North Yarmouth Academy took the next three positions.
Fort Fairfield was next, followed by Forest Hills, George Stevens Academy, Central Aroostook, Penobscot Valley and Jonesport-Beals.
Watson is the Tigers’ only golfer to qualify for the individual championships this weekend. Watson, a senior, is the defending Class C state
champion.
“It will be a nice battle to watch this weekend when Robbie tries to defend his title with [he and Morang] paired together again along with a couple of other players who could win as well,” Gardner said.
