The Lewiston High School Blue Devils golf team is continuing its strong play in the most crucial part of the season.

Monday, the Devils defeated Brunswick, 162-173, in the team medal to capture the KVAC South crown. Stephanie Rodrigue’s 38 led the way, followed by Andrew Loisel’s 40. Brendan Croteau and Kyle Morin each shot a 42, Alex Robert carded a 44, and Sam Zashut fired a 49.

“The magic number is 160 for four players,” Lewiston coach Tom LeBlond said. “It’s been good, some players are sometimes are there and sometimes they aren’t. Usually one of them isn’t another one is there coming in with a good round. Top to bottom, we have been pretty solid. We are hoping we still haven’t played our best golf yet.”

The playoff format is straight stroke play,  whereas in the regular season, both stroke and match play count toward the results.

The win sends Lewiston to the KVAC Class A shootout, where the Blue Devils will take on North Division champion Brewer and Central Division champions Messalonske. The three schools were supposed to tee it up Wednesday at Rockland Country Club, but the weather forced the tournament to be postponed until Monday. The winner of the shootout automatically qualifies for the state team championships at Natanis Country Club on Oct. 10.

“I think this the first time for all of our players, especially the seniors, it’s the first time they have been to the KVAC shootout,” LeBlond said. “They are excited about that, and it’s another accomplishment for our players.”

No matter what happens on Monday, the Blue Devils will head to Natanis on Tuesday with the rest of the conference for the KVAC qualifier, and another chance to qualify for the team state tournament.

Teams heading to the KVAC qualifier also hope for individual results

A few teams will be going to the KVAC qualifier in hopes to get an individual qualified for the state individual tournament, knowing chances are going to be low to qualify for the team tournament..

Mt. Blue, which has the bare minimum for the team qualifier with four players, believes two players have a good chance to qualify for individuals: senior Russell France and sophomore Ryan Nelson.

“We aren’t disillusioned and thinking we have a very much of a chance to make the team (championships),” Mt. Blue coach Mark Cyr said. “We have a couple players who have an outside chance of making the the individuals. If they have a good 18-holes next Tuesday, they can move on to the state individual championships. That will be great.”

Cyr also said they have been shooting in the high 30s and low 40s for nine holes.

The Cougars only won two matches as team this year, defeating Lawrence twice. They fell to Messalonskee in a KVAC Class A central semifinal.

Oxford Hills, which didn’t win a match all season hopes, Mac Kim will have a good day next Tuesday.

“He has had an up-and-down season,” Oxford Hills coach Mike Grace said. “He works hard, but some days it’s there and some days it is not. Hopefully he will have enough to qualify at the qualifier as an individual.”

Mother nature changing course conditions

With the rain that has come in Tuesday night and Wednesday followed by more rain for the weekend, teams are preparing for wet conditions

“We had a good practice (on Monday) and we even got in a good nine holes today,” Cyr said on Tuesday. “If we get washed out tomorrow it won’t be that much of a loss. I think we we will get back at it on Thursday if things dry out a little bit. If they don’t, at the very least on Thursday we will go to the driving range and hit. I find that just as valuable as playing nine holes. If you can get to the driving range once a week to work on your form and your fundamentals, it’s almost as important as playing nine holes.”

The rain is also going to make courses longer next week.

“Rockland is a short course, but (the rain) is going to make it longer,” LeBlond said. “Obviously after all this rain we have, the ball isn’t going to be rolling like it has been over the past couple of weeks. It’s pretty much you have to have a good ball flight.”

Mike Kersey,Dirgo High School’s coach, believes it will be important to stay out of the rough when the conditions are wet.

“The rough will get a little heavier,” Kersey said. “You need extra club to get out of the rough when it’s wet.”

Grace doesn’t think the greens at Natanis will slow down all that much.

“Dickie (Browne) (Natanis’ golf pro) cut those greens down pretty good,” Cyr said. “I am thinking the greens will still be pretty fast initially, unless it rains or they a little dew on the greens.”

nfournier@sunjournal.com

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