Newtown High School's boys' golfers broke the team record with an even par 140 en route to a win over visiting Immaculate of Danbury, which carded a 167, at Rock Ridge Country Club on August 26. The Nighthawks broke the mark of 141 set last season by most of the same contributors.

Medalist honors were shared by Will Lokey and Jack Wishneski, each with a score of 33. Nate Pickard had a 36, Aiden Andreotta 38, and Henry Laughlin 41 to round out Newtown's tally. Newtown's Division I state ranking got as high as three after this win put the Hawks at 4-0 to begin the campaign. Lokey, Wishneski, and Pickard are seniors who lead the way as the Nighthawks go for their fourth straight South-West Conference title and state success this season.

"The team is looking great. This is the best team I've ever had," Coach Shawn Tierney said. "When I lose those three seniors it will be hard to replace them — it's a tremendous class. The kids are working hard, they're playing every day. They're not making mistakes."

Tierney said his team members have high golf IQ and that collective course management along with time spent at various courses in offseason tournaments have been paramount in the team's success behind these stellar scores. Newtown's coach said scoring in the 140s at home has been a regular occurrence in recent years but that the golfers are now lowering scores at courses on the road behind newfound efforts to attack each hole. After qualifying for the state tournament in the past, these Nighthawks are looking to stay in the mix at the top and be contenders to win it all.

NHS will have some solid in-season/postseason-preparation tests, including participating in the Avon Invitational (which the Hawks won a year ago) and hosting one of if not the state's best in Fairfield Prep, which comes to Rock Ridge Tuesday, September 29 at 3 pm.

Sports Editor Andy Hutchison can be reached at andyh@thebee.com.