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06/14/2021 12:00 AMHeading into the Division II State Championship, Hand boys’ golf Head Coach Jim Holleran was looking for his team to regroup and refocus after coming up just shy of winning a SCC title a few weeks earlier. Behind a medal-winning performance from senior captain Matt Doyle and a solid team score of 299, the Tigers bounced back and claimed the Division II state title for the second-straight season and fourth time in school history.
Prior to the state meet, Hand had finished in second place at the SCC Championship with a score of 324, just one stroke behind Fairfield Prep’s 323. While the Tigers were disappointed, Coach Holleran knew that they had to put it behind them with the State Championship approaching.
“The first two days after the SCC Tournament, we had a little low. We picked up our intensity the following week,” said Holleran. “We had real good practices. I could tell the guys were very determined to play well. The results showed that they did exactly what they set out to do.”
Hand took part in the Division II State Championship at Timberlin Golf Course in Berlin on June 7. The Tigers’ score of 299 was nine strokes better than second-place finisher Pomperaug’s total of 308. Hand had previously won state titles in 2012, 2013, and 2019.
Doyle earned medalist honors as the low scorer of the meet with a five-under-par total of 67 for his 18-hole round. Sophomore Matt Gagliardi finished in a tie for eighth place with a 76 for Hand. Senior captain Conner Quinn and sophomore Reece Scott both finished in a tie for 16th place with their respective scores of 78. Senior Will Fitzgerald shot an 85 and finished in a tie for 41st place.
After doing the math, Coach Holleran realized that the Tigers were in prime shape to win the title around the 12th hole. Once all the golfers had finished and Hand was announced as the champion, the Tigers were ecstatic that all of their hard work had paid off.
“The guys were very elated. This was the accumulation of a lot of work throughout the past year,” Holleran said. “We missed last golf season, which was a big disappointment. We were excited to play golf this year, and the guys played with a lot of enthusiasm. That carried throughout the entire season. The final result at the State Tournament was outstanding.”
Not only was Doyle’s 67 good enough for medalist accolades, it was four strokes better than the two second-place finishers. Doyle had previously collected medalist honors at the SCC Championship with a score of 70.
Doyle was one of only three golfers to finish under par at the state meet. Coach Holleran said that Doyle, who will continue playing golf at Elon University next year, is the best public-school golfer in Connecticut and demonstrated why with his performance at states.
“He was absolutely incredible. He strikes the ball so well. He had nine birdies that day. He hits it close to the hole no matter where he is. If his putter is even a little bit on, he is going to score very low,” Holleran said of Doyle. “He had his putter rolling. He hit it close to the hole often. He hit it well and he hit it straight. It was a big bonus for him to hit 67. It gave us a little breathing room.”
While Holleran was impressed with Doyle’s performance, he was also pleased with the preparation that his team underwent to get ready for states. Players who had never played at Timberlin went there for a practice round in order to get a feel for the course. Holleran described his Tigers as a bunch of dedicated golfers who did everything they could to improve.
“I just leave it to the guys. I made my expectations known, but they knew it, too. There wasn’t much I had to do. There was a great commitment. It carried through the five guys,” said Holleran said. “They put in extra work. They put in the time and put in the effort. I felt good about the whole thing.”
Doyle and Quinn served as the Tigers’ captains this season. Hand’s senior class also includes Fitzgerald and Eric Dillner. Coach Holleran said that all four seniors proved crucial to the team’s success and did an excellent job of leading the underclassmen.
“The senior class brought a tremendous amount of determination and commitment to golf,” Holleran said. “Dillner didn’t play much this year, but he was as enthusiastic as anyone on the team. Every time Fitzgerald struggled, he would go back, work on his problem, and come back better. Connor always showed a strong work ethic, and Doyle really set the tone.”
Following the Division II State Championship, several Hand golfers competed at the State Open Championship at Black Hall Club in Old Lyme on June 12. Doyle finished in a tie for 14th place with a four-over par score of 75 for the Tigers. Scott shot an 80 and finished tied for 24th place. Quinn carded an 89 to finish tied for 43rd.
Every Tuesday during the season, Hand would practice its chipping and putting. Oftentimes, Coach Holleran had to tell his golfers to stop, because all they wanted to do was keep working. While he’s excited about their success, Holleran said that this year’s Tigers were special for the work they put in and the determination they displayed every time they were on the links.
“They were enjoyable to coach. You think just because you win, it will be enjoyable, but I’ve had winning teams that weren’t as enjoyable as this one,” Holleran said. “The degree of effort and determination and self-motivation they showed, it made my job easy. They were ready to go every day. It was a very enjoyable experience this year.”
The Hand boys’ golf team’s roster features senior captains Matt Doyle and Conner Quinn; seniors Eric Dillner and Will Fitzgerald; junior David Ginsburg; sophomores Matt Gagliardi, Reece Scott, and Owen Stuart; and freshmen Kasimir Lesnik, Singewald Maxwell, and Nicholas Osterling.