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05/21/2013 12:00 AMIt's been quite a drought for the Morgan golf team, particularly the last several years when the Huskies were struggling to compete against the likes of Old Saybrook, Valley Regional, Old Lyme, and Coginchaug, all of which have won Shoreline Conference titles in recent years. Morgan can now put its name in the mix for the first time since 1992 as the Huskies won their first crown in 21 years with a 317 score at Clinton Country Club on May 20.
"It means a lot, we've all been working hard," said junior captain Gabe Van Ness, who also won the tournament individually with his one-under-par score of 71. "Last year we thought we had a decent shot and we knew this year we'd be the favorite and we had the home course advantage. It's great, it being the first time in 21 years - it's not like we have the tradition of winning, so it's great to get that one back. I played well, that was really relieving to get that score. Individually it's the biggest tournament I've ever won. I'm just proud of everyone and I played well, but just me playing well doesn?t get it done. Everyone else came up big."
Favored to win the competition as the Huskies have dominated for much of the spring, Coach Eric Bergman's mind was put at ease fairly quickly when his No. 1 guy, Van Ness, posted that 71 and his No. 2 guy, sophomore Maxx Bugg, then came in with an even-par 72 for the 18-hole course.
"It's their home course, they're members, and they know where to put the ball in the fairway and that clearly is an advantage," said Bergman, who is in his eighth year coaching Morgan golf. "When Gabe posted a 71, I got pretty excited and knew that would be pretty hard to beat. Then Maxx comes in at 72 and the rest of the guys came in with good numbers, so I knew we had it. This is the first time I've won a conference title and it's pretty exceptional. You get so emotionally invested and it becomes your life, these guys. Your name is reflected on how they do and it?s a big relief to get the win."
Bugg added that there was extra motivation for the win this year after the Huskies finished as runner-up to champion Old Saybrook a year ago after having year after year of disappointing seasons.
"It's great because I really wanted to win it as a team with Gabe and everybody for [senior] Frank [Rivas] and Coaches Bergman and [Paul] Beckett," said Bugg."A few years ago the team wasn't very good and now everyone?s coming around and we peaked at the right time for Frank and our coaches and that's the best part about it. My dad and his team won the title back in '85 for Morgan and he helped me create a game plan until the end and I stuck with it throughout the whole thing, which I was able to do to help the team out. I hit a lot of fairways and about 14 greens so that was really good."
Coming in behind both Van Ness and Bugg - who earned First Team All-Shoreline for their results - were Rivas with an 87, freshman Kevin Daley (Second Team All-Shoreline) with a 91, and junior Tanner Romanos with an 87.
"In a small conference you?re not going to have four guys in the 70s, so once [Van Ness and Bugg] came in with those scores, we pretty much sealed the deal," said Bergman. "It wasn't a surprise for anyone in the league that we could pull it out, but on any given day, things can happen."
Bergman largely credits his two captains in Rivas and Van Ness for their leadership skills not only during this match, but all season long.
"The leaders of the team stepped it up - they're mentally tough," said Bergman. "These kids can have a bad hole or two and it doesn't seem to affect them; they can come right back and grind it out. And they?re so committed to each other that they have an obligation to their teammates that they?ve created as well. I also think Maxx and Gabe proved themselves to be two of the best players in such a competitive environment to post the scores they did."