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06/18/2014 12:00 AMIn pursuit of its second straight Division IV title at Timberlin Golf Course in Kensington on June 11, the Morgan golf team had to erase its 320 score from competing in 18 holes and regroup to play a three-hole tiebreaker against Northwest Catholic, which also shot a 320. This playoff brought out the true competitiveness in the Huskies and after all was said and done, Morgan clinched its second-ever state title after beating top-ranked Northwest Catholic 55-57.
It was senior Gabe Van Ness who stood starkest in the face of pressure as the winning putt came down to him in the tiebreaker after he already tied for medalist honors in the 18-hole tournament.
"In the playoff, I made a birdie in the last hole-we were up by one, and the other guy missed his putt, so I had to at least tie, but I made the first one to win it," said Van Ness, who shot a 71 to tie for medalist honors with Parish Hill's Nicklaus Harrington. "I played really good and had a hot start; I hit a lot of greens and putted well. We've worked so hard these four years and it felt great to do it all in the last match. States was the ultimate goal all along this year. But nothing is pressure like being in that kind of playoff situation-a whole year's work could go down the tubes."
Head Coach Eric Bergman has watched his links men dominate all year and admitted this was the best-and toughest-competition his squad has seen yet, but as always, his Huskies thrived when it came time to win it.
"It's pretty much unprecedented because there are so many holes and it's so unique," said Bergman of the playoff situation. "Maxx [Bugg] and Gabe thrive on this and these types of situations. They love the competition, close matches, and opportunities to prove themselves under pressure, because they know they can handle it. Gabe wanted it-for four years he's been on the team and as a freshman saw us struggle. It's no better way to finish it for him. We have not seen this kind of competition as a team-when you look at Northwest Catholic's differential, they're one of the top 10 teams in the state and are top quality. To beat this team is huge."
According to Bergman, the course was fair and the greens were slow, but true. As the No. 4-ranked team in Division IV coming into the tournament, Morgan saw Van Ness shoot his 71, Maxx Bugg a 75, Jack Bugg an 86, Kevin Daley an 88, and Burton Caldwell a 98.
"It was fun to be out there playing. I knew on the last hole I was one up on the Northwest kid and was beating the other two, but not by much. I knew Gabe was winning his group, but I knew it was coming down to us and Northwest Catholic," said Maxx Bugg. "The playoff was nerve-wracking. The thing with golf is it's always nerve-wracking on the first shot. Once you get past that, you're just playing golf. The key is to start off good, and we did. The pressure is the most fun part of golf and it's why I play the sport. When it comes down to pressure, that's why people play and you hope to play well and come out on top."
After both Morgan and Northwest Catholic tied at 320, both teams played in their three-hole playoff and the top four scores out of five were taken for those three holes to determine the winner. It comes extra sweet for a team that struggled to win a match just a few short years ago.
"I'm just proud of these guys," said Bergman. "We're definitely a middle class town and it's ridiculous we can have such success being so non-conventional-a non-conventional golf course in such a non-conventional town is what makes it so special."