Quechee
Hartford, which hasn’t been to the postseason since 2010, was forced to linger in the top division because of a small number of D-I teams in the state, particularly in the south.
A recent change in the VPA’s postseason format, however, allowed the Canes to claim their place in D-II. In the past, two teams advanced to the state tournament from the south district, but now all the teams in each division will compete in a qualifier for states.
“We’re in the middle of Division II populations,” Hartford coach Mike Hathorn said after his team won the Quad-City Golf Classic on Tuesday at the Quechee Club. “We’re in an appropriate division now.”
State meet qualifiers are set for next Tuesday, with D-II squaring off in Rutland and D-III in Brattleboro. Hartford will have the advantage of sending a full team of five golfers, whereas in the past, Hathorn didn’t always feel comfortable doing so.
“You play a team like (D-I) Rutland, their fifth man is going to shoot an 80,” Hathorn said. “I’m not going to bring a fifth man who shoots 120 because it’s not fair to the tournament. … Many times I’d only bring two or three kids to tournaments.”
Qualified teams submit their four lowest scores and throw out the highest.
“A good day for us, we’re looking to try to break 200 for nine holes and 400 for 18 holes,” Hathorn said. “That’s more in line with the Division II schools in the state.”
Hathorn’s squad carded a 198 on Tuesday ahead of Rivendell (224), Windsor (228) and Woodstock (235).
Thetford’s lone golfer, Erik Lindahl, was the medalist with a score of 41 on the Highland’s front nine. Hartford’s Brady Hathorn (46) and Kody Wessel (47) were second and third, respectively. No other golfer in the field of 21 players broke 50.
The younger Hathorn is a freshman who plays in the No. 1 position. He said he’s looking forward to the upcoming qualifier, but is also unsure of what to expect from opponents.
“We don’t really know what the other teams are shooting,” Hathorn said. “This is a tester year for trying out Division II so we can make a run at states in the fall.”
Due to another recent VPA rule change, the current season will be the last spring campaign for Vermont golfers, who will shift to fall competition beginning with the 2017-18 school year.
Wessel put up his best round of the high school season so far on Tuesday. The junior said he was in favor of the Canes’ division change.
“I think it was a good thing for us, especially since last year we didn’t really have a shot at winning anything bigger,” Wessel said. “I think we have a better mental state. Going into the mini-tournaments with a better mindset has really helped a lot of our players feel better even if their scores aren’t as great.”
Lindahl, who birdied the sixth hole with a 10-foot put to help secure his impressive margin of victory on Tuesday, is an independent golfer informally attached to the Rivendell team. He will enter the D-III qualifier with a good shot at advancing to states, which will require him to finish among the top five on the leaderboard in Rutland.
Rivendell, led by Jake Kamel’s 52 on Tuesday, is expected to send a full team to the D-III tournament, as is Windsor, which was led by Jacob Curtis’ 55; Alex Hirak, Woodstock’s top golfer at Quechee with a 53, will be the Wasps’ sole representative at qualifiers.
Notes: Hartford’s No. 4 golfer, Kobe Labonte, shot a 57 — an off day in his estimation, caused in part by an equipment snafu. The junior was so focused on Tuesday’s match that he brought his putter into school for practice in between classes. “I was in a rush to get here,” Labonte said. “I forgot it in U.S. history class.” Labonte fortunately was able to borrow a putter from Quechee’s pro shop, but the ordeal may have cost him a few strokes. Labonte, who plays football in the fall, chuckled graciously about it nonetheless. … Tuesday was the fifth installment of the Quad-City Golf Classic, which returned from a seven-year hiatus. Hartford won the tournament in each of its first four years beginning in 2006.