Tufts wins Husson Invitational Bowdoin takes second, Eagles’ ‘A’ team third

ORONO – After playing in the Husson Invitational for the first time last year, Tufts University golf coach Bob Sheldon joked that he wanted to be a polite guest and not beat the host team their first time out.

“Remember what he said last year?” Husson College coach Bruce MacGregor said. “He said he went with his ‘B’ team and said they’d win it next year. I guess it turns out he’s a soothsayer.”

Well, the Jumbos coach won’t go that far, but Sheldon was very proud of his team’s performance at the two-day tournament at Penobscot Valley Country club even though they went from a program-best 293 on Sunday to a 312 on Monday.

Trouble with the course or Monday’s soggy weather conditions?

“We had trouble being in first place after the first day,” Sheldon said bluntly.

That might be attributable to the relative youth of his team, which had three experienced starters graduate.

“We have two guys back with two freshmen and a sophomore. One of the freshmen went 70 and the other went 79, so you can’t complain about that,” he said.

Not when it all adds up to an overall 36-hole score of 605 that beat out runner-up Bowdoin College by three strokes.

Defending tourney champ Husson fielded an even younger squad than Tufts. In fact, the Eagles fielded two squads. The “A” team finished third at 609 and the “B” team was fourth at 613.

“Obviously we would have liked to win the whole thing, but to have these guys come in and compete at a high level already is really great,” MacGregor said of his young program. “We’ve got to be pleased ending up third and fourth with our two teams here.”

Husson’s “A” team didn’t fluctuate score-wise too much from the first day to the second, although top player Adam Duplisea, a junior from Hermon, followed up a Sunday 70 with a Monday 81. Sophomores Ben Estabrook (78-74) of Bangor and Chris Coffin (76-76) of Presque Isle were solid along with freshmen Kevin Byrne (80-83) of Winslow and Chris Hamel (80-74) of Waterville.

The “B” team of Josh Gallagher (80-79), Adam Packard (82-72), Brian Johnson (74-81), Nick Pelletier (77-75) and Adam Fournier (77-79) also turned in a fine overall effort.

“They’re not as consistent as they will become, but they have certainly posted good numbers this year, and what I’m particularly pleased with is they’ve all played in at least three tournaments and done well,” MacGregor said. “I think they’re ready. I think they’re ready to play in the conference meet and the New Englands.”

Bowdoin sophomore Ryan Blossom was in postseason form as he scorched the field and the course for a 3-under-par 69 on Sunday and followed that up with an even-par 72 Monday.

“It was a new day today. I just tried to make pars on the hard holes and give myself a chance for birdie on the others,” said Blossom. “I felt like I hit the ball better today, but with the wind I think it played a little harder.

“The putts were slower, so I could be a little more confident that way, but there were a couple holes I used wedges on yesterday that I was using 5-iron today.”

Still, Blossom remained consistent, as did his teammates. Jeff Cutter carded a 72 and a 73, Turner Kufe went 78 and 84, James Yoo was 81 and 79, and Kevin Smith scored 81 and 91.

“This is our last big tournament since we played our conference championship last weekend, but as a team this is a huge tournament,” Blossom said. “I think it’s the lowest we’ve ever gone and I know it’s the first time we’ve been under 300.”

Senior David Hunt led the way for Tufts with a 1-under-par 71 Sunday but struggled Monday and finished with an 82. Freshman and No. 2 man Luke Heffernan also saw quite a reversal of fortune, going from 70 Sunday to 79 Monday. Senior Michael O’Neil and sophomore Phil Haslett helped fill the breech by improving their Sunday scores, going from 76 to 75 and 80 to 78, respectively.

“Yesterday we had some real good holes early on and I think it just started rolling and became contagious,” Sheldon said. “Today, when we rounded nine, we weren’t playing that well, but my number one guy birdied nine and 10, so I think that kind of got us going again.”