This year’s boys varsity golf team has battled ups and downs throughout the season. The boys have fought valiantly in every match and tournament as the season begins to wind down. Since April’s issue, the boys have had some solid performances.
At the annual two-day Coppola Cup hosted by Avon Old Farms, KO fought hard but fell short. However, the tournament contained bright spots, including senior Captain Austin Perkins, who won the combined 18 holes, and senior Ronan Culligan, who put up a solid team second-best 41 on the second 9 holes.
Additionally, the boys traveled up to Pomfret for a match at Quinatisset Golf Club, etching out a close victory over Pomfret with Perkins’ outstanding 32 (-4) and two 39s (+3) from Culligan and junior Ansh Buduguru. This match was definitely a highlight of the season so far for the Wyverns as they took home the victory and posted some terrific scores at a fun, short, and relatively easy course.
Looking to take some momentum from this match into the rest of the season, on May 6, the Wyverns participated in the annual 18-team Western New England Tournament. The round was plagued by horrendous rain, and the tournament took place during the start of AP exams, which prevented senior Captain Jordan Cipriano and Culligan from playing, but despite the obstacles, the Wyverns still showed out and gave a valiant effort.
Perkins started slow but went -8 through his last 16 holes and carded a 66 (-6), blowing the rest of the field out and winning by five shots. Additionally, Buduguru carded an extremely solid 78 (+6), his best 18-hole score to date. The Wyverns finished ninth on the rainy day, middle of the pack.
Perkins attributed his performance to his next-shot mentality. “I did not start strong at Westerns,” he said, “but, I kept my head down and made sure not to focus on the past and think about each shot ahead.” Clearly, this is a lesson everyone can take to heart: to succeed, you have to have a short-term memory from time to time.
Most recently, the Wyverns went to Watertown Country Club for the Founders League Championship on Saturday, May 16. Once again, Perkins took home first, winning with a 69 (-2). On top of that, Cipriano and Culligan shot 85 (+14) and 84 (+13) respectively, battling the narrow fairways, thick rough, and slow greens of Watertown.
Perkins, Cipriano and the rest of the squad are proud of a successful season and are hoping that the team can carry on the same success next season!
