Girls’ Golf Squad Set To Tee Off And Contend For SWC Title
The girls’ golf campaign is just around the corner and with a little weather luck Newtown High School’s lineup might tee off Monday, April 1, when the Nighthawks are scheduled to visit Joel Barlow at Redding Country Club.
Some spring campaigns have been pushed back by snow, others off to a slow start due to rain. But even if it ends up being a wet start the Hawks are hopeful April showers bring a May championship.
“We’re hoping to compete for an SWC Championship and make the states,” said Newtown Coach Jeremy O’Connell, whose team is regularly one of the better ones in the South-West Conference.
Keys to the Hawks getting where they want to go are playing more consistently and improved scoring at away matches, O’Connell said.
The Nighthawks are slated to have a lot of road tests early on. They begin things with two matches on the road, following up the Barlow matchup with a visit to Immaculate of Danbury at Richter Park Golf Course on April 8. Then it is over to the home digs at Newtown Country Club for a quick-turnaround rematch with Barlow on April 10. The four matches that follow are all to be played away from the familiar confines of Newtown Country Club.
Maddy Watson and Emma Early are the captains. Maddie Marcisz, Riley Ragan, Amanda Faircloth, Olivia Hankins, Sarah Gore, and Lucia St Lorenzo will also be competing for opportunities.
Last year, Immaculate edged out Masuk to win the SWC championship. Both SWC rivals will be among the contenders along with the Nighthawks this spring, O’Connell anticipates. The Hawks will face Immaculate and Masuk twice each during the season and will have a tough matchup with FCIAC foe Ridgefield as well. All matches will begin at 3 pm.
“Looking forward to the season,” O’Connell said. “But hoping for better weather.”
And a championship.
Sports Editor Andy Hutchison can be reached at andyh@thebee.com.