Golf team still looking for first win

TOWN CRIER- WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 8, 2008

By MIKE GIANNATTASIO
Sports Correspondent

The Tewksbury Memorial varsity golf team, although winless in 12 matches, have been improving week to week as the team heads into the last few weeks of the season.

Their schedule has not been helping them get their first win though, as the Redmen played three consecutive away matches from October 1st through the 3rd.

The golfers lost a match last Wednesday to Methuen at Merrimack Country Club by a score of 13-7. The point scorers for Tewksbury were Matt Thomann and Jon Deshler, whom both halved their matches, as well as Ryan Doherty who won his match 4 and 3 and Craig Semenza who also won 4 and 3.

On Thursday, Tewksbury played at Haverhill and lost 16-4. Dan Rose halved his match at the six spot and Evan Cutelis won his match at the seven spot 2-1.

The next day, Tewksbury headed to Central Catholic and the competition did not get any easier as they lost 19.5 to 5. Evan Cutelis and Dan Rose halved their match. Ryan Doherty played a good round and lost one down in the three spot.

The TMHS golfers lost their closest match of the season on Monday, as they fell to Chelmsford 11-9.

“The match came down to the final putt in the final group,” said Coach Jay Stamp.

Going into the final hole Craig Semenza was even and Rob Bradley had already won his match 3 and 2. The best ball for Tewksbury was even, as the team score at this point was Tewksbury 9 and Chelmsford 8 with three points left to be had.

“If Semenza won the hole he would have halved his match to get a point and won or halved best ball to win the match,” added Stamp.

Semenza and Bradley both pared out and Bradley's opponent pared out as well. Semenza's opponent needed to make his putt from 15 to make birdie and win the match.

With all of the pressure of the match, Semenza's opponent drained his putt and stole what would have been the biggest upset of the year for Chelmsford.

The point takers in the match were Ryan Doherty who halved his match, Jon Deshler who won 3-2, Dan Rose who won 4-2 and Rob Bradley won 3-2

Evan Cutelis lost his match 4-3 and Dan Rose had already won his. Without best ball from their group the match would have been over before the last hole.

“I talked to Evan and Dan before the last hole to inform them how important best ball was,” said Stamp. “Evan, even after losing his match, helped his partner take best ball on the eighth (hole) and he birdied the last hole to win best ball.”

The TMHS golf team plays a home match versus Methuen on Thursday and a home match versus Andover on Friday. On Tuesday the golfers play a match at Dracut.