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05/21/2014 12:00 AMIn a new season with a newly realigned SCC, the Guilford versus Hand boys' golf rivalry still brings out the best between competitors.
The match on May 12 at the Madison Country Club was no different with Hand earning a 147-160 victory-coming after the teams' initial meeting just five days prior with the Tigers scratching out a 149-161 decision on that afternoon. Leading the charge for Hand was senior Brian Carlson, who shot for one-under-par with a strong 33.
"My swing has been bad, but it wasn't today, so I knew it would be a good day from there," said Carlson, whose Tigers hit their second-lowest score for the campaign. "I actually hit the ball good, except for my wedges, which is weird because I'm usually a good wedge player. But I made good drives that I'm happy about, because I haven't been hitting good drivers."
The Tigers also earned a triumph over Shelton (sporting a 150) to improve to 11-1-1 on the campaign. Hand now sits in Tier 1 of Division I in the SCC (that includes Fairfield Prep, Cheshire, Xavier, and Amity) with the old divisions of the Hammonasset, Oronoque, Housatonic, and Quinnipiac gone in favor of a two-division league with each division being split into two tiers. Despite the changes, Head Coach Jim Holleran is pleased with his club in the new-look SCC, feeling it has been steadily improving since the Tigers' 1-1-1 start.
"I would've liked to go a little lower with the score today, but I tried some new guys today and they did alright," said Holleran. "We are coming along and we've got some work to do, but it's certainly alright. We are in a tight SCC where, at least in our division, anyone can beat anyone on any given day. It just comes down to putting four good scores together."
For Carlson, he hit for par on the opening hole before a bogey, although he rebounded by alternating birdies and pars on the next four holes prior to going one-over on the seventh. The senior then sealed the one-under round by getting through each of the final pair of holes on three swings.
"It was a boring round for me, which I actually like because it's easier and you aren't trying to scramble around and save par everywhere; it was breezeless and nice," said match medalist Carlson. "We are solid as a team even with losing two solid players from last year. Considering the circumstances, we are doing pretty well, and we will get better."
The next best scorer for Hand was junior Justin Freund, who was swinging out of the No. 3 spot in the lineup for the day, with his 37. The three-over-par tally is another strong showing by Freund, a match medalist on two occasions the previous week against Notre Dame-West Haven (with a 34) on May 5 and versus those same Indians two days later (grabbing a 35).
"I didn't have too much trouble out there, and I was just going through my routine," said Freund. "The team has come a long way; we weren't playing great in the beginning of the year, but now we are starting to shoot lower scores and hopefully get into contention for SCCs and states again."
Rounding out the Tigers on the day was junior Tommy Pellatt (38), plus seniors John Collins (39) and Sam Jablonski (41), while the Indians' (5-7) scorers were sophomore Ethan Bedell (38), senior Jamie Webb (40), sophomores Aidan Kellaher and Ben Fazzina (each earning a 41), along with senior Sienna Fucci (42).
Holleran added that members of his five some had rough patches on the links, yet he is still plenty pleased with what he is seeing out of the defending league and state title holders.
"John had a hard time today, and Sam with a 41, he's a little better than that, but the other three guys are solid. Tommy's not happy with his 38, yet most people would be," said Holleran. "Brian was one-under, so that was certainly a good round, and Justin has been getting consistent, which is nice to see."
The first of the Tigers' two title defenses will come on Tuesday, May 27 with the SCC Championship at Racebrook Country Club in Orange at 8 a.m. in which the conference's top nine teams based on lowest stroke average qualify. Showing some new faces on his group, Holleran said that the Tigers need to display a little steadier and lower average.
"We are just trying to get better and improve. It's a whole new year; it's not last year and we know that," said Holleran, whose team lost a 156-159 decision to Xavier the next day before a 155-155 draw with Amity on May 15 to sit at 11-2-2. "We lost great players, but we just have to get better and be more consistent."