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06/13/2013 12:00 AMFor the Hand boys’ golf squad, it was the identical result over the same team—the only difference was this year’s outcome came with a little more breathing room.
On June 10 at Tallwood Country Club in Hebron, the Tigers concluded their perfect campaign by earning the team’s second consecutive Division II State Championship with a total score of 299. After Hand bested second-place New Canaan by a single stroke last year, it again won over the runner-up Rams, yet this time by seven swings (306). In addition to taking the crown again and finishing the campaign unblemished, SCC Champion Hand stayed under the 300-stroke barrier for the first time in its history.
“It’s amazing to do this again after we had such a great team last year,” said senior captain Tyler McAndrews. “This year our team was even better and I can’t believe how well we did. We came together and grew as a team throughout the season. I personally didn’t come up with greatest score [82], but I was glad to contribute towards another state title.”
The Tigers were led by junior Brian Carlson, who shot a one-under-par 71 for his day. It proved to be the postseason’s magic number for Carlson, as he earned the same total at the SCC Championship on May 28 to gain match medalist honors for that tournament.
“It feels good to do it two years in a row for states and basically sweep the season with the undefeated 17-0 record and SCC title,” said Carlson. “It was probably our best season statistically and overall. We played everyone, plus a lot of different teams, but it all paid off.”
Carlson (also earning All-State honors) got off to a hot start on a muggy and overcast day—shooting back-to-back birdies on the first and second holes. He would conclude the front nine at a two-under 33 following shooting for par on the next seven holes. The back half would see Carlson struggle with consecutive bogeys on holes No. 12 and 13 prior to birdying again on the 16
th
hole to finish the final nine at 38.
“This has been a fantastic season,” said Head Coach Jim Holleran. “I couldn’t ask for any more than this. They met every challenge this year and were so focused on that state title. Our score today was outstanding; it’s not easy for a team to do that for a state tournament. Brian was so consistent and [sophomore] Tommy Pellatt was fantastic. Our scores really indicated how deep we are as a team; the guys all compete hard and feed off of each other.”
Right behind Carlson was Pellatt with his 74 performance, which began with birdies on holes No. 3 and 4 before his neutralizing double bogey on the ninth hole to finish the first section of his day even at 35. The second set would see Pellatt double bogey on No. 11 and bogey on 13, while he found a birdie on the following hole to find a 39 for the back half.
“It feels great to be able to do this again,” said Pellatt, who shot an 84 at last year’s tournament. “I was a lot happier with how I played this time versus last year. I had those bogeys, yet I finished strong. My driver was crooked, so I hit a lot of irons off the tee. I hit those irons well and I didn’t have any three-putt holes.”
Next in Hand’s championship lineup was senior Chris Bennett, as he capped off his Tigers’ tenure with a 76. Bennett was even until a duo of bogeys on five and seven prior to his double bogey on hole No. 8 to finish the first half holding a 39. While the back nine would see another trio of one-over holes on 12, 14, and 18, he cancelled those out with three birdies on holes 10, 16, and 17 to end the outing’s final nine with a 37.
“This is awesome to win this, and the whole team really played well,” said Bennett, who had to shoot a Connecticut State Golf Association Tournament qualifying round at Madison Country Club on the same day. “I didn’t start off well; my putting was bad. Yet the three birdies on the back nine helped a lot, and I hit my irons well. We knew coming in we were definitely in contention for it, because we have five solid players. It’s a great feeling.”
Junior John Collins was closely behind Bennett, shooting a 78. Collins would birdie on the second hole of the course, yet he would also bogey on three of the final five holes for the initial nine to earn a 37. Bogeys would find their way into the second part of Collins’ round—hitting one on the 12
th
hole before a double variety on 13 and another solo bogey on 14—prior to a birdie on 15 and another one-over showing on 18 to grab a 41.
McAndrews, who also had to shoot a CSGA qualifier round, finished fifth among his teammates with his 82 round. McAndrews would stay on par throughout the front nine, with the exceptions of a double bogey on five and a bogey on seven to tally a 38 halfway through. While he shot for a birdie on hole No. 11, he would encounter four bogeys and a pair of double bogeys on the final nine for a 44.
“This is all very gratifying, because I have such confidence in these boys,” said Holleran, whose squad also defeated Division IV State Champion Morgan this season. “I knew going into the season we were really talented, but it’s tough to go to other team’s courses and win. I was never concerned with going undefeated; 17-0 is a bonus. Our goals were to take the SCCs and states, but these guys really got together and worked hard. It was a terrific season.”