By Kim J. Harmon

Sure, coach Jim Casagrande might have been more than a little concerned about prospects for the 2000 golf season after graduation just about wiped out the upper level of his roster, but four matches into the campaign and he is looking at a team resting at 4-0.

It started with a tough, 170-170, win (which had to go to the fifth-man tiebreaker) over New Milford at Candlewood Valley Country Club and then continued with a 178-191 win over Notre Dame at Heritage Village Country Club in Southbury.

This week, the ‘Hawks kept the surprising streak alive with a solid 178-193 win over Jonathan Law at Heritage Village and, a day later, a 185-197 win over the Foran Lions at Grassy Hill Country Club in Milford.

In the win over Notre Dame, Mike Rostafin was medalist with a 4-over-par 40. Joe Ziemann followed with a 45 while Rick Mackay carded a 46 and Nate Gaines carded a 47. The Lancers were led by Steve Murphy’s 44 and Brett Belade’s 46.

Against Law, Rostafin and Mark Werbeck were co-medalists at 42. Rostafin aided his own cause on the par-4, first hole with a stunning wedge shot from behind the green that lessened the damage suffered from a previous shot out of bounds. Ziemann added a 46 and Taylor Gunn followed with a 48.

Law was led by Gary Guilmette’s 47 and Jim Kier’s 48. Kevin Mauritis and Kevin Newlan both carded 49s.

Against Foran, the ‘Hawks did not need to be particularly sharp to overcome the Lions, who fell to 0-3 on the season. Gunn earned medalist honors for the first time this season with a 8-over-par 44. Rostafin carded a 45, Jared Nathanson added a 47, and Ziemann followed with a 48.

Foran was led by Mike Amendola at 48 and Kyle Brennan at 49. The Lions’ third and fourth men both shot 50s.

The 170 team score against New Milford at Candlewood Valley represented a, so far, personal best differential of 29.6 (the difference between the team score and the course rating for a foursome) while the 178s carded at Heritage Village represented a 38.4 stroke differential. The 185 against Foran represented a 42.6 stroke differential.

The ‘Hawks were set to host Bethel at the Newtown Country Club on Thursday and then will travel to Crestbrook Park in Watertown on Monday to battle the Indians. On Tuesday, the ‘Hawks will return to NCC for a match against Weston, one of the South-West Conference’s strongest teams, and then remain at NCC on Thursday for a match against Joel Barlow.