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08/23/2023 06:43 AMIn the sport of golf, complacency is never an optimal mindset with a club, which is why Chris Labanara was not only drawn to the sport but also driven to swing hard and accurately for the Nighthawks.
The now senior grew up playing baseball from T-ball to middle school, but then lost his passion for the diamond and was brought into golf during his newfound spring sports downtime by his father. This past season, as the North Haven golf team went 15-1, won the SCC Tier II title, and qualified for both the SCC and Division I State tournaments, Chris finished off his campaign with a round of 88 in each postseason foray.
“I decided to join the golf team, and it was the best decision I ever made,” says Chris. “I am a competitive person, and golf can be a very frustrating sport, but I like that because there is always the need to improve and progress. A key to my success is the constant feeling of a need to improve. I also go on YouTube and watch golf lessons to gain knowledge on the game and mechanics, plus I also hit into a net I have in my backyard.”
Moving from swinging the lumber of a Louisville Slugger in the batter’s box to a 1-Wood off the tee, Chris had to undergo some adjustments in negating old habits; yet he straightened his form out to tailor make it towards his new sport while learning how to think like a composed club veteran.
“The transition from baseball to golf played into my slice. I worked hard to get rid of that, and I saw a big improvement to my draw. Strokes can also add up with your short game, so I practice hard with my chipping and putting to bring down my scores,” Chris says. “Golf is 90% mental. I have the mentality that your next shot is the most important one, so I do not dwell on bad shots, and I do not get too high after good ones. I try to just stay neutral emotionally.”
The prominent Nighthawks had a small group but additionally a youthful bunch on the links for the spring of 2023, but Chris saw it as an opportunity to establish himself as a dedicated, committed, and selfless upperclassmen team leader.
“We had a lot of younger guys getting into the sport, so from my experience as an underclassman, I knew it was important to include them all, communicate, and give them tips. Being that mentor and role model was important to me,” says Chris. “Our goal coming into the year was to make states as a team; that was a big one for us. Having that collective goal as a group helped us work towards it and achieve it.”
As the stakes rose for the postseason draws of the SCC and Division I State Tournament, Chris consequently upped his overall game despite the pressure-packed stage and hit the market in terms of his postseason projections and targets.
“The atmosphere at SCCs and states was a lot different from the regular season matches and more competitive,” says Chris. “I was nervous on the first tee, but I played pretty well. I shot an 88 in both rounds, and I was very happy with that since my goal was to break 90 for each of them.”
North Haven golf Head Coach Kevin St. Pierre proclaims that Chris earned a stewardship spot heading into his senior year on the back of his commitment to the sport and the entire squad and the team targets they shot for with a true aim.
“Chris has shown tremendous improvement and dedication to the game and team the past three years. Not only has Chris earned himself a starting spot, he was also voted captain,” says St. Pierre. “Chris understands that golf is a game of patience and that every shot counts. Similar to the rest of the team, he bought into the goals and used his leadership skills as Junior Class President to help the team achieve their goals. I am looking forward to seeing what he has to bring to the team in his final year.”
Ready to emerge as a senior leader, Chris and his teammates have certainly been putting in their practice rounds and reps around various Connecticut courses this summer as it draws to the close. He explains that with those tours of the course, combined with budding talent on their way up to the squad for 2024, the future is bright for both Chris and North Haven to chase down conference and state crowns next spring.
“I have been shooting a lot over the summer and have improved, and I know a lot of the other guys on the team have been practicing, too,” Chris says. “We also hopefully have some new talent joining the team next year, so we will hopefully be even better as a team. I am very much looking forward to next year.”