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VASSALBORO โ Cheverus golf coach Billy Goodman kept asking his players how their rounds were going. They kept responding with a different question.
โSam (Sirois), he was leading. He kept asking how the team was doing,โ Goodman said. โEvery one of my kids asked how the team was doing.โ
Pretty well, as it turned out. Led by a 1-over 73 from medalist Mick Madden and a 75 from Sirois, Cheverus rolled to the Class A championship and its first state title since 2005 at Natanis Golf Course on Saturday. The Stags shot a 307, good for a 13-stroke victory over Falmouth. Messalonskee (324) finished third, led by Gavin Jacksonโs 79, and Scarborough (325) and Gorham (327) rounded out the top five.
Cheverus was second last year, and graduated three players from its top six. The Stagsโ rebuilt ladder flourished all season, though, en route to the SMAA title, and it was never better than Saturday. Sirois, a freshman, tied for second, Joe Mancini carded a 78, and Keane McGrath fired an 81. Mathew Paradis (82) and Garrett Thees (86) also had solid rounds, but their scoring wasnโt needed.
โTheyโre very close-knit for kids that havenโt been together a long time,โ Goodman said. โThey wanted this team thing.โ
Maddenโs 73 gave him the individual title ahead of Sirois, Falmouthโs Dante Iannetta and Greelyโs Joe Hansen, each of whom shot 75. Scarboroughโs Brett Kemper was fifth with a 76.
Thornton Academyโs Stella Foy took the girls title with a 90, beating out Lily Blanchard (91) of Hampden Academy, Lila Dailey (94) of Camden Hills and Lydia Jones (95) of Skowhegan.
Madden, who was second in Class A as a freshman and third as a junior, took his turn at the top as a senior, carding two birdies against three bogeys. He finished in style with a birdie on the 18th sticking a 52-degree wedge from 100 yards and rolling in a 7-foot putt.
โThe course was set up really difficult, I thought. But I just tried to tell myself โStay with it,'โ Madden said. โThe team part was, in some ways, what I was really worried about. โฆ I feel like we worked really hard all season.โ
How much better did first place feel with the team doing the same?
โTen times better,โ Madden said. โThe bus ride now is going to be so much fun.โ
Iannetta was in Maddenโs group, and at one point pulled even with him after birdies on the 14th and 15th. A bogey on 16 and Maddenโs birdie on 18 provided the difference.
โI hit the ball well all day; putting was definitely a problem,โ Iannetta said. โWe kind of played together the whole way, it was really nice to have one of us get it.โ
Iannettaโs 75, along with a 78 from Clayton Casey, an 80 from Joe Graceffa and 87s from Dom Hau and Alex Novick kept Falmouth close. But Cheverus proved too much, thanks largely to Sirois, who led at 3 under through 10 holes.

โI wasnโt really nervous. I just played,โ Sirois said. โIt was important for morale (to start hot). โฆ I didnโt really think too much about (my) position when I was out there.โ
Gorhamโs Eli Castles and Skowheganโs Eddie Goff (77) tied for sixth. Casey, Mancini, Scarboroughโs Nick Harmon and Bangorโs Jacoby Harvey tied for eighth with 78s.
The girls title went to Thorntonโs Foy, who didnโt qualify for the tournament in her first year golfing as a freshman. As a senior, she recovered from back-to-back triple-bogeys on 14 and 15, her eighth and ninth holes of the day, and finished strong with four straight pars.
โShooting 90, thatโs not what I wanted to be. And I had a few really, really rough holes,โ she said. โBut I definitely feel like I had some grit out there. โฆ Iโm happy with how I stuck through it.โ
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