This is a printer-friendly version of an article from Zip06.com.

Morgan Golf Racks Up Four Wins on the Week

The Morgan golf squad had a packed schedule last week with four games, and the Huskies were able to grab four wins on the slate. As the postseason approaches, the Huskies look poised to make some waves in the playoffs.

Head Coach Eric Bergman’s squad has a 10-3 record on the season after this week and sports a six-match winning streak.

The Huskies began the week with a win 177-195 win over Old Lyme at Black Hall Golf Club on May 17. Coach Bergman thought that Morgan’s match against Valley Regional on the same course gave his team a boost of confidence heading into the contest.

“We had played Valley the previous week at Black Hall. We came in with some confidence. It’s good to have the players have previous knowledge of the course. They were familiar with the track and with the layout,” said Bergman. “We faced Old Lyme at Clinton in a non-conference match. They have some players with talent. I suspected at their home course, they would be a difficult match. I was proud of my kids for the win. They seem to be coming into their own right now. They are walking with a confidence that they didn’t have before. This is the time of year you expect to see this type of growth in teams.”

The Huskies faced the Wildcats on the par-35 front-nine of Black Hall, and saw steady performances all around. Senior captain Jason Cohen was Morgan’s low man with a score of 40, while junior Nick Schmidt turned in a tally of 42. Freshman CJ Giuliano shot a 44 on the day, and junior Drew Nye scored a 51.

On May 18, Morgan hosted Coginchaug at the par-36 front-nine of the Clinton Country Club and earned a 178-181 win over the Blue Devils. The was a narrow victory by the Huskies that ended up even narrower after a scoring error, but after some consultation with the USGA, Morgan still ended up with the win.

“Going into the match, we thought they would be the second most difficult match of the year after Portland. We had them at home and that was a distinct advantage. It was a little bit close for comfort,” said Coach Bergman. “Jason was given a two-stroke penalty for hitting the wrong ball, and he neglected to take that penalty, initially. We had to discuss it and talk to the USGA to determine the proper penalty. We were very nervous. We waited with bated breath wondering if he could be disqualified. It felt like a fair ruling, and it was definitely a learning opportunity.”

Cohen ended up with a score of 40 in that match after the penalty, and Schmidt had a 45. Right behind Schmidt were Nye (46) and Giuliano (47). Junior Tyler Greenhouse rounded out the group with a score of 53.

The next day, Morgan had another home match, this time versus Cromwell. The Huskies triumphed by a 173-183 margin. Nye was the low man for Morgan in this match with a score of 40, and Cohen and Giuliano both scored a 42. Schmidt tallied a 49, while Greenhouse notched a 56.

Coach Bergman has been impressed with the Huskies’ depth this season. That coupled with being familiar with their home course was what won the day in Coach Bergman’s estimation.

“We continued the momentum from the previous day. Cromwell has strong No. 1 and No. 2 players, and after the first group came in, we were fairly close. Our No. 3 and No. 4 players CJ Giuliani and Drew Nye helped us a lot. They really jell. There’s a wonderful chemistry between these two guys. They are pretty different, but they found a way to bring out the best in each other,” said Bergman. “Beyond familiarity, a lot of kids grew up playing at Clinton Country Club, and they know where not to go. They know the speed of the greens. Where to best go for an approach shot. This is where a lot of these kids get their first taste of golf.”

On May 20, the Huskies headed to Black Birch Golf Course’s par-36 front-nine to take on Haddam- Killingworth. Morgan’s more experienced players were able to earn the 180-205 victory over the Cougars. Cohen took the low mark for the Huskies with a 38, and Schmidt finished up with a 45. Giuliano clocked a 48, and Nye was one behind him at 49.

Coach Bergman felt it was a big positive that the Huskies didn’t let down after facing three of their toughest opponents in each of the three matches prior to the H-K contest.

“Most of their players are pretty new to the game. For the most part, we secured our position going into the Shoreline Tournament. The kids were unusually relaxed, but it was still a competitive match,” Bergman said. “Having played three very difficult matches earlier in the week, they felt a little more relaxed.”

Cohen had a strong week for the Huskies after he felt his game had been a bit off. With the turn-around Coach Bergman thinks Cohen has a shot to get some end-of-year recognition.

“Jason’s been a bit of a self- admitted slump, to be quite frank. He felt his game was in a pretty good place, but it just was not showing up in the scores,” said Bergman. “This last week he seemed to get some of that early-season momentum back. It’s important for him to do that going into Shorelines and states. He has a shot to be First Team All-Shoreline and All-State Division III.”

Nick Schmidt has also been turning in some important scores for Morgan in its match victories, and so has Andrew Nye.

“Our No. 2 right now is Nick Schmidt. He’s fairly new to the game, but he’s an athletic football player. He has a really simple swing; so simple that he doesn’t tend to get into trouble. He’s also a smart player that plays out if there’s any tough spots and moves on,” Bergman said. “Andrew is the quarterback of the football team, and incredibly humble and mild-mannered, while also being animated and self-deprecating. He’s not what you would say is your big man on campus syndrome. He played as a freshman, and he’s grown physically quite a bit since then. It’s a dramatic change. He’s stronger and far more confident.”

Rounding out the rest of the standard scoring group are Giuliano and Greenhouse.

“CJ has played in some of the junior PGA tournaments. So he’s had experience, but nothing beyond that. He plays a lot, though. Even with four matches on the week, he went out to play again with a couple of people,” Bergman said. “Tyler is a complete beginner, but he’s a quick learner and easy to coach. He knows when to grind and when to pull back. He’s doing well.”

The Huskies also have a handful of girls playing as well with junior Taylor Maher; sophomores Rebecca May, Kristina Berman, Bella Fishman, and Sara Gelven; and freshman Maggie West. They are beginners for the most part, though Maher has gotten to compete a few times when a school has a competitor for her to match up with.

“We have some girls who pretty much play as a club. We don’t play competitive matches. They are all beginners. We get them out to the course three times a week for range time, instruction, and to play a few holes,” said Bergman. “Taylor Maher has played competitively twice this year. For a new player not knowing what to expect in competition, and traveling up with the boys, I give her a lot of credit.”

Coach Bergman knows that in the Shoreline Conference, Portland has a fairly dominant team, but he hopes the Huskies can still prove something this postseason.

“We’d have to win the tournament to win the league. In golf, on any day, things could happen, but Portland has a ton of players with 18-hole experience,” said Bergman. “If I can send the kids out with some confidence and as long as Portland knows that we are nipping at their heels, that could put the appropriate level of stress on them. That’s why the Coginchaug win was so important. If we had gone in with two losses in the conference, Portland’s lead would have been insurmountable.”