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07/28/2019 12:00 AMThe Guilford golf team featured several fresh faces on its roster as it teed off the 2019 season. However, the Indians displayed maturity beyond their years and turned in a great campaign in which they notched 14 victories and claimed a division crown.
Head Coach Dave Esteban guided a young Guilford club to an impressive record of 14-4 that resulted in an SCC Division II title for the Indians. Guilford went on to compete at the SCC Championship that took place at Race Brook Country Club. The Indians entered the competition as the No. 7 seed, but moved up to fourth place by posting a collective score of 338 for the 18-hole round.
After SCCs, Guilford hit the links at the Division II State Championship, where the Indians finished in a tie with Masuk for eighth place after each team totaled a score of 348 at Stanley Golf Course.
Coach Esteban praised his athletes for grasping the game so quickly, while also gaining a deeper appreciation for the kinship on the team this spring.
“They really enjoyed each other’s company,” Esteban said. “There were some brothers and friends that were on the team, and [they] really helped to push competitiveness within the team. They really enjoyed being together and enjoyed golfing. It was a special year.”
John Kosh served as a junior captain for the Indians and will be reprising that role as a senior next year. Sam Hao was the lone senior on Guilford’s roster this season. Esteban said that both players proved a positive influence to their teammates through their selflessness and dedication.
“John was a wonderful leader and led by example. He was positive and did everything you asked him to do. He was helpful without being preachy, was always willing to help others, and didn’t care where he played,” said Esteban. “Sam was a four-year member of the team, and I could always plug him in at the No. 5 or 6 slot. He took the move to JV with great maturity. He never complained and was a consummate teammate.”
The other athletes on the Indians’ roster were juniors Noah Kosh, Kyle Richard, and EJ Vickerman; sophomores Andrew Ciocca, Peter Keanna, Colin Lee, Shane Markle, Shea Thibault, and Eve Young; and freshman Miguel Pearce.
Guilford’s proudest moment came against Shelton in a match that decided which team won the SCC Division II championship. By earning a 172-176 victory, the Indians not only captured their first division title in nearly a decade, they also secured a spot in the SCC Championship. Kosh led the way for Guilford by finishing with a round of 80 at the conference meet, earning himself a spot on the All-SCC Team.
“Late in the year, it came down to us and Shelton for the division title. We lost to them last year, so there was some nervousness, but the kids played well across the board,” Esteban said. “It’s been about eight years since our last division title, so to get it against them and our spot in SCCs was rewarding.”
This year yielded a great deal of progress for Guilford, and Coach Esteban was pleased with the poise that his underclassmen displayed on the course. Looking forward, the Indians are ready to build upon this momentum by moving closer to becoming one of the prominent programs within the SCC and state ranks.
“It was a year full of surprises, and it was great to see kids come out of the woodwork. Winning the division was a nice feather in the cap, and to also get in SCCs that day was pretty cool,” said Esteban. “I anticipate another good year versus good squads. We will play a tough schedule, especially if we move up to SCC Division I, but we want to be known as one of the better teams in Connecticut.”
From the Sidelines
This was Dave Esteban’s fifth season as the Indians’ head coach.
During the regular season, Guilford earned two wins versus Law (187-208 and 165-168), Foran (184-194 and 165-192), Lyman Hall (175-198 and 181-182), East Haven (155-201 and 161-227), and Hillhouse (155-218 and 154-219), as well as one victory apiece against Career (185-270), North Haven (161-202), Cross (155-195), and Shelton (172-176).
The Indians took losses against Notre Dame-West Haven (167-190), Shelton (162-189), Hand (146-190), and Hamden (174-190).