By Kim J. Harmon

By KIM HARMON

Published: May 30, 2001 12:00 am

By Kim J. Harmon

DANBURY â When they stacked overall records neck to each other, the Newtown High School golf team â at seven up and six down for the season â did not seem to measure up so well with Weston (13-1), Bethel (13-1), Pomperaug (12-2), Bunnell (11-3) and New Milford (10-4).

But it was a far different story on Wednesday morning during the annual South-West Conference tournament at Ridgewood Country Club in Danbury. On Wednesday morning, the Nighthawks measured up just fine.

Mike Troy and Ben Moore each fired a 14-over-par 85 and led the âHawks to a tidy, third-place finish with a team aggregate score of 357 â right behind first-place Weston (341) and second-place Pomperaug (353).

Troy, who was Newtownâs most consistent golfer this season, shot a 44 on the front nine and a solid 41 on the back.

âI just wanted to keep the ball in the fairway,â he said, âand give myself a chance to make pars. I didnât hit my drives well, but I putted well. I wanted to break 80 and I think I could have done it if I hit my drives better.â

Moore, who blossomed quickly for the âHawks and scored consistently, shot a 43 on the front nine and a 42 on the back.

âI missed a couple of short putts, but all in all it worked out pretty well,â he said. âItâs a nice course, but a couple of the greens were diabolical.â

Joe Ziemann carded a 91 and Jared Nathanson shot a 96 on the 6,250-yard layout to bolster the Nighthawksâ chances. Mark Werbeck finished with a 99, but his score was dropped from the overall total.

New Milford finished fourth overall at 368.

Then the scores dropped off. Bunnell was fifth at 383, Bethel sixth at 386, and Jonathan Law seventh at 399.

Chris Voie of Weston was the medalist and individual champion, shooting a blistering round of 4-over 75. Voie was the only golfer to crack 80, although Zack Duncan of Pomperaug (82) and Austin Monteiro of Immaculate (83) came close.

TEAM SCORES

Weston 341, Pomperaug 353, NEWTOWN 357, New Milford 368, Bunnell 383, Bethel 386, Jonathan Law 399.

INDIVIDUAL SCORES

75 â Chris Voie (Weston).

82 â Zack Duncan (Pomperaug).

83 â Austin Monteiro (Immaculate).

85 â Mike Troy (Newtown), Ben Moore (Newtown), Tyler Kupper (Weston).

87 â Andy Krebs (New Milford).

88 â Chris Catropa (Bunnell), Kevin Lynch (Pomperaug), Evan Fensterstrock (Weston).

89 â Kevin Mauraitis (Jonathan Law), Scott Stevens (Joel Barlow).

91 â Matt Kielt (Pomperaug), Nick Riley (New Milford), Joe Ziemann (Newtown).

92 â Chris Weydt (Weston), Adam Leone (Bethel), Jamie Bebrin (Pomperaug), Dan Corretta (Foran).

93 â Matt Johnson (Bunnell), Greg Kaiser (New Milford).

94 â Val Altieri (Notre Dame).

95 â Paul Mengacci (Pomperaug).

96 â Brendan Spain (Bethel), Jared Nathanson (Newtown).

97 â Nick Giambazzi (New Milford), Kevin Merritt (New Milford).

98 â Jon Wengler (Bethel).

99 â Ian Rogrow (Weston), Mark Werbeck (Newtown).

100 â Chris OâConnor (Bethel).

101 â Ryan Kelleher (Bethel), Nick Sulik (Bunnell), Jeff Kunze (Bunnell).

102 â Jason Joseph (Jonathan Law).

103 â Tom Lidman (Jonathan Law).

105 â Gary Guilmette (Jonathan Law).

112 â Kevin Newlan (Jonathan Law).

117 â Dave Fuller (Bunnell).

The Way We Were

Malcolm Andrew 'Andy' Bryant

Top Of The Mountain

Garden Club Spring Plant Sale Saturday

Full Slate Of May Programs Planned By Flagpole Photographers

The editorial took no position on the budget going up or down so you're reading things into the editorial that simply aren't there. The turnout is tied to the lack of passage, in that people who came out to vote last time did not this time, indicating a lack of support on their part. Perhaps it wasn't spelled out clearly enough, but that's what the editorial was driving at, people showing lack of support by not casting a vote. The editorial did address likely concerns among voters that may have led to lack of support and lack of turnout. This lower turnout also follows increasing turnout over the past four referendums in three years (meaning it is an aberration from that), and increased turnout is something that I do push for regularly in editorials. Any disappointment you might be seeing is at the break in that trend, not at whether the budget passed or not. I'd rather see more people come out and vote "no" then not vote at all.

Lower Turnout Results In Two Budget Defeats

Clearly, property owners no longer want to bear the burden of expenses while the state does not meet it’s responsibilities. Rising costs must be addressed by actions that do not include yearly increases of property owners’ taxes. The state of CT must meet its share of the educational costs, and other costs.

Town And School Budgets Fail At Referendum

This feels like an oddly misleading headline and narrative, particularly coming from the Editorial Board. The headline "Lower Turnout Results in Two Budget Defeats" pushes a misleading narrative regarding voter turnout, and then seeks to tie the outcome of the referendum to that misleading narrative. Sure, voter turn out for this year's referendum, 18%, was lower than last year's. However, last year's turnout, 25.4%, represented the highest turnout in the most recent 10 budget referendums. If you take the time to examine turnout percentages between 2017 and 2026 (2017: 19.9, 2018: 15.7, 2019: 17, 2020: 0, 2021: 8.98, 2022: 7.7, 2023: 8.8, 2024: 15.1/17.49, 2025: 25.4, 2026: 18), this year's turnout was actually the third highest in the past 10 cycles. Perhaps the headline of this article should say "Lower Voter Turnout Than Last Year", which is more accurate, rather than creating an impression that this year's turnout is some type of aberration - a narrative that the turnout numbers, in all their binary glory, simply do not support. Further, the headline of this article appears to tie the "lower turnout" to the defeated budgets. Sure, that could be true. But, perhaps, its more likely that Newtown residents are feeling the squeeze of multiple economic influences. In Newtown, we've experienced property revaluations and increased municipal spending. Eversource continues to raise rates. The state legislature gives PURA the authority to impose Public Benefit charges that benefit a tiny percentage of the public (and subsequently burdening the rest of us). At the national level, inflation has run rampant for years and many of those costs remain high to this day. In short, the data tells a far less dramatic—and far more honest—story than the headline suggests. This wasn’t an electorate vanishing in apathy; it was a fairly typical turnout delivering an verdict that, perhaps, some at the Editorial Board didn't like. At some point, it’s worth considering that residents aren’t confused, disengaged, or misled by turnout; they’re simply doing math at their kitchen tables and concluding that “no” is the only responsible answer left.

Enjoyed the forum which only confirmed my support for Brandon Moore as the Democratic candidate to run for the state representative position. Brandon Moore did not waiver about his duty to all the people, if elected, when an issue presents itself that requires that he voice a difference of opinion for the wellbeing of Newtown residents. If Michelle Ku’s 16 years have led to her loyalty being to other elected officials, as she implied, then Newtown is going to continue to witness actions that do not protect its residents. She could not unseat republican, Mitch Bolinsky, during a Blue Wave, and once again, will not do it now. Winning that seat is critical for all. That explains why her previous campaign committee now campaigns for Brandon Moore. It explains all the endorsements he has received from local elected democratic officials. It’s why we need Brandon Moore to be the democratic candidate to run for state representative.

Second Newtown DTC, League Of Women Voters Candidates Event Planned

Appreciated the opportunity to hear from both candidates as we were present for the College Dems forum but only heard from Brandon Moore. It was an opportunity to see who can unseat the Republican incumbent and there is no doubt that Brandon Moore should be the Democratic candidate. One concerned parent posed a question about discrimination unaddressed by the school district and interestingly enough, Michelle Ku, who proudly speaks of her Board membership years, said little, while Brandon Moore passionately addressed the issue along with his experience as an Apache Helicopter Commander. This family is supporting Brandon Moore. We need change and someone who is not afraid to disagree, especially about the rising costs of living in Newtown.

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