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05/28/2024 09:33 AMThe Hand boys’ golf squad took home tandem team titles last postseason in returning to the mountain top. Like most defending champions in high school athletics, the Tigers have had to reshuffle after graduating key pieces. Still, the team is taking on the challenge with a tenacity and determination fitting of a champion.
After the Tigers amassed a dozen wins in 16 regular-season matches on the links in 2023, Hand earned a share of the SCC Championship (its first conference crown in four years) by finishing tied with Cheshire via a score of 315 on May 30 at The Farms Country Club. Yet when it came to the Division II State Championship seven days later on June 6 at Fairview Farms Country Club, Hand stood alone at the top with a team tally of 306 to mark the second state championship for the program in three seasons, the third title since 2019, and fifth overall. All of Hand’s state championships have come in Division II, with the Tigers taking top honors in 2012, 2013, 2019, and 2021 previously.
The regular season en route to a potential dual title defense was a bit of a rocky one, with the Tigers posting a 6-9 mark this spring. Though Head Coach Jim Holleran–who has been at the helm since 2009–is confident in his club to straighten their focus and drive to thrive in the upcoming postseason.
“This year has been a struggle at times, but we remain optimistic that our best golf is still in front of us. The goal is to play well and qualify for the SCC Tournament. We will play in the Division II State Tournament at Stanley Golf Course in New Britain,” said Holleran. “In discussions with the captains prior to this season, everyone realized that we lost three outstanding seniors and a fine freshman player from last year's team. The captains were determined to have a great team experience, as we were going through a rebuilding year, and they have remained strong contributors throughout our season. Kas and Matt kept everyone on the team involved in a positive manner throughout the season.”
Those captains Holleran alluded to are co-captains in senior Kasimir Lesnik and junior Matt McManus. Golf is a game where Mother Nature’s unpredictable nature weighs heavily, but through an example of that, the two leaders truly shined with their skills and selflessness towards the squad.
“They have brought great leadership to the team this year, both through their play on the course and their interactions with their teammates,” said Holleran. “We had an instance this year when the horn went off from the Surf Club signifying lightning in the area. After the players were safely off the course and the danger had passed, Kas and Matt organized an impromptu chipping and putting session for the team, showing both initiative and leadership. They did a great job of fostering camaraderie and a positive outlook on the team. Kas and Matt have continued to work throughout the season to help this team be the best it can be. Each of them has earned medalist honors this season in our matches.”
Hand’s lone sophomore in Cameron Knight has emerged as a young upstart for the Tigers, having earned match medal honors thrice this spring. Bolstering the senior class ranks are two members making their return to the team with Cam Becker and Nick Osterling. Conversely, there are a tandem of seniors making their debuts in Jake Roberts and Jack Barrett.
“Cameron has emerged this season as a very solid player. He has had a few ups and downs, but he works hard and continues to improve. I am sure he will be an outstanding player next season,” said Holleran. “Cam and Nick have been working hard to improve their games throughout the season. They give us great effort in practices and matches. Jake and Jack both have played in a number of matches for Hand this year, a nice achievement for players new to high school golf. Although their play has been up and down, they continue to work to improve their games. All of our seniors continue to work hard as the season comes down to its final weeks.”
Mike Marino has served as a steady and veteran influence for the boys with marked improvement from 2023 in his golf game. Additionally, several rookies have stepped onto the links and delivered with Lucas Felberbaum, Cian Powell, Griffin Brodie, and Daniel Tornos by displaying that they are in it for the long haul.
“Mike has improved his play over last season, and he continues to be a positive contributor to the team in practice and in matches,” Holleran said. “The four freshmen we have added have all played in matches and have displayed a willingness to work hard and improve their games. They put considerable time into their short game work, and I know it will pay off in their future golf careers. We will count on them to be impact players for the team next season.”
On May 2, Cheshire prevailed in a tight match with Hand, 163-167. Knight was the medalist for the match with a score of 37. The Tigers then fell one week later to Amity by a 151-175 count. McManus was the bright spot for Hand, earning medalist honors with a 36.
On May 13, Hand took a four-stroke loss to Xavier at 165-169 with McManus pacing the Tigers again with a 39. Hand lost by 10 to Notre Dame-West Haven on May 14 (161-171), as Lesnik was the medalist on the afternoon.
Hand emerged with a 178-182 win over Hamden on May 16. In a close match played under challenging weather conditions, Hand was led by medalists Knight and Lesnik with scores of 42. For May 20, the Tigers played a slightly closer affair to ND-WH in a 159-167 defeat, as Hand tied its season-low score. McManus notched an even-par 35, which included three birdies.
The boys bounced back with a 158-165 triumph over Shelton on May 21 before a six-stroke loss to Guilford the next day, 164-170.
The Tigers begin their postseason journey with the SCC Championship right after the Memorial Day weekend on Tuesday, May 28 at Farms Country Club in Wallingford with a tee time of 8 a.m. Holleran and Hand are still fine tuning to find that formidable lineup from top to bottom on match day, though no matter what the outcomes are, they are approaching the future with a grand sense of optimism.
“This year has been a struggle at times, as we have not been able to get a good fourth score to go with our generally consistent good play from the first three spots in our lineup,” said Holleran. “All of the players on the team have continued to strive for consistent play to help the team. We are hoping that all of the hard work pays off, and we can proceed to the postseason tournaments with a positive outlook.”
The Hand roster for 2024 is comprised of seniors Lesnik, Becker, Osterling, Roberts, Barrett; juniors McManus, Marino; sophomore Cameron Knight; plus freshmen Brodie, Felberbaum, Powell, and Tornos.
2024 Hand Boys’ Golf Regular Season Results
April 15: Hand 182, Haddam-Killingworth 188
April 15: Hand 182, Morgan 196
April 16: Xavier 158, Hand 178
April 17: Guilford 171, Hand 183
April 22: Hand 179, Shelton 182
April 23: Hand 180, Hamden 205
April 25: Branford 171, Hand 176
May 2: Cheshire 163, Hand 167
May 9: Amity 151, Hand 175
May 13: Xavier 165, Hand 169
May 14: Notre Dame-West Haven 161, Hand 171
May 16: Hand 178, Hamden 182
May 20: Notre Dame-West Haven 159, Hand 167
May 21: Hand 158, Shelton 165
May 22: Guilford 164, Hand 170