Nothing, not even chilly-for-the-season, damp conditions, could stop Newtown High School’s first-year varsity girls’ golf team from having its moment in the South-West Conference sun, on June 2. The Nighthawks, behind the top overall golfer, as well as the third-place competitor in the field, captured the conference championship at Orange Hills Country Club.

Newtown shot a 414, and runner-up Joel Barlow of Redding had a 435 as the teams competed for 18 holes under an on-and-off rainfall.

Sarah Houle took home medalist honors by firing an 86, and teammate Molly Wilson was third with a 94. Halle Wilson shot a 111, and Liz Weisgerber and Brenna Kelly each shot a 123. The top four of each team’s five individual scores count toward the overall result.

“It’s a tremendous feeling, and this being our first year as a varsity sport made it that much sweeter,” Newtown Coach Jeremy O’Connell said.

The coach said he was “very proud of them,” especially given the circumstances. The Nighthawks were in the unusual position of being in their first postseason tournament, yet being expected to win it all. They have had a remarkable spring during which the girls went unbeaten.

“It’s a lot of pressure being the favorite,” O’Connell said. “Everybody’s out to beat you. What you try to do is play your normal game and be mentally strong.”

The Hawks certainly succeeded in that mission, and O’Connell noted that all of the participants had to shake off tough weather conditions.

“It was cold and damp, there was rain here and there. It definitely affected everybody,” said O’Connell, adding that golfers had to adjust to their drives not necessarily going where they wanted them to at times.

The Hawks were the most accurate team on this day, just as they have been since the season began in April.

O’Connell credited the other six team members for playing significant roles in Newtown’s success for practicing hard and pushing their teammates as they competed for starting five positions. Hannah Logan, Casey Muckell, Kayla Ward, Allie Indelicato, Camryn Findley, and Kira Kelly round out the conference champion roster.

Up next, O’Connell and company hope, is a berth in the June 9 state championship, also at Orange Hills. Only the top 15 teams, based on average difference of strokes from the average rating of courses played during the regular slate, qualify for the state competition. Qualifiers are expected to be announced on June 4.