BEACON FALLS — The Woodland boys golf team has busted out of the gate to start the season 4-0.
The Hawks earned a convincing 169-236 win over Naugatuck at Oxford Greens Tuesday for their fourth win.
The Hawks were led by four golfers that broke into the 40s. Ryan Wagner and Mike Erickson knocked in team lows of 40 followed by Zach Crowell with a 42 and Owen Harris with a 47.
“That was our lowest score of the year,” Woodland head coach Bill Carangelo said. “Those are the kind of scores we are going to need if we plan on competing with Holy Cross and Watertown.”
A lofty goal for the Hawks, but they have the clubs to carry them through.
“I don’t think the kids are feeling any pressure,” Carangelo said. “They are starting to believe in themselves. I knew coming into the season that we had a good solid five who can put up some good scores.”
The Hawks opened up with a 171-262 win over Crosby April 23. Erickson led the way as the medalist with a great round of 37. Warner and Cromwell put up rounds of 43 followed by freshman Julian Perino with a 48.
Woodland made it look easy in a 172-199 win over Wolcott on April 24. Erickson hit his season-best with a medalist score of 36. Perino stepped up his game firing a 42 with Warner and Crowell both hitting a 47.
Carangelo said the Hawks can have a special season, as long as they don’t get ahead of themselves or lose focus.
“This game is more mental as it is physical,” Carangelo said. “You need to stay concentrated on the little things. We still have some work to do, especially on the greens where we can still knock a few strokes off our game with better putting.”
The Hawks fell a little bit off the pace, but still beat Torrington, 176-196, on Monday.
Erickson once again led the charge with a 42. Warner was right behind him hitting a 43. Crowell fired a 45 and Harris hit a solid 46 in his first match of the season.
“In the past that is what killed us not having consistency in our fourth and fifth golfers,” Carangelo said. “This year we have that kind of consistency to remain competitive with the top teams in the league. We just need to take it one match at a time and not lose our focus.”
Woodland is set to face Kennedy on Wednesday and Sacred Heart on Thursday. The Hawks will be put to the test May 4 when they take on Holy Cross at Oxford Greens. The Hawks will host the Woodland Invitational May 7 with some of the best teams in the state coming to Oxford Greens, including last year’s state champion Pomperaug.
