First-season struggles, growing pains … time to build? None of this applies to the first-year Newtown High School varsity girls’ golf team. The Nighthawks are playing like seasoned golfers, easily winning each of their first five matches of the campaign.

It doesn’t hurt that the team members do have some experience on the course. They practiced as a club squad last year, and competed in some junior varsity matches. Coach Jeremy O’Connell notes that, since he only saw JV lineups last year, he wasn’t sure exactly what to expect from the competition. O’Connell came into the campaign with the goal of winning a South-West Conference championship, and the success thus far has given the coach and his golfers plenty of reason for optimism.

“We have an opportunity,” O’Connell said. “They’re getting out on their own and working and playing to get better. I’ve been very pleased with work ethic of these girls.”

The Nighthawks are led by Sarah Houle, Molly Wilson, Halle Wilson, and Liz Weisgerber, along with Casey Muckell.

So are the golfers surprised by their early success?

“Not really because I knew we had a lot of good golfers. I’m just happy it’s worked out the way it has,” Halle Wilson said. “Everybody’s working really hard and everybody loves the game. We want to improve so I don’t see why we won’t continue on this trend of success.”

The Nighthawks, beginning with a May 5 visit to Bunnell of Stratford, have ten matches left on the slate.

“We’re just trying to put up some good scores to help with our state ranking,” Houle, Newtown’s No. 1 golfer said.

Molly Wilson shot a 41, Houle had a 43, Weisgerber a 45, and Muckell a 54 in Newtown’s April 29 win over defending SWC champion Joel Barlow of Redding, at Rock Ridge Country Club. The Hawks shot a 184 and Barlow fired a 222.

Against Stratford on May 4, in another home match, Houle shot a 44, Molly Wilson shot a 45, Halle Wilson shot a 54, and Weisgerber shot a 55 as the Hawks, collectively, fired a 198 to easily defeat the Red Devils (278).