BY RYAN O'CONNOR
Finishing fourth in last year’s Class L golf tournament was nice, but Ben Adams wants more from his varsity golfers this year.
“I certainly have to give appropriate respect to Concord, the two-time defending state champs who are off to a very good start already. But I think, personally, we’re as strong as they are,” said Adams. “We’re by no means going to run away with the championship. It’s probably going to be a one- or two-stroke difference.
“Most teams have a standout golfer or two, but it’s who has the best 6, 7, 8 (that determines the final result), and Salem has that kind of depth of talent this year,” he added.
Of the 18 players on the roster, Adams picks eight an outing to represent his team. The top five scores from each team are added and compared to other teams for the final results.
Barring injury or an unexpected change of play, seven of the eight varsity starters are set, said Adams.
Seniors Jay Longacre and James Folk are the Blue Devils’ top two players after leading their squad to a 29-7 record in 2006, a school record for victories.
The squad also finished four shots off winning the state championship, with a 383 combined 18-hole score, and Longacre and Folk made the individual challenge, an individual battle of the top 24 golfers tapped from the team round.
Salem has seven seniors with the ability to compete at the varsity level, said Adams, though he admitted he has only three golfers who are consistent enough to keep him comfortable.
“Jay (Longacre) and James (Folk) are clearly my No. 1 and 2, along with (junior) Corey Keenan, who has been playing pretty impressive as well,” he said.
The other golfers likely to tee up on Oct. 4 at Canterbury Woods for the championship tournament include seniors Tyler Vigue and Garrett Moore, junior John Pettoruto and sophomore Jeff Cohen.
“Quite frankly, I think any of my four through eight can be right there,” said Adams. “But I believe we need to show it on the course at the end of the season. I think we’re going to have another very impressive record … at least 25 wins, maybe even a little better than that.”
This year, Salem has competed twice, going 2-1 and 1-2 during two nine-hole tournaments, playing three other schools in each competition.
In both matches, Longacre was co-medalist, or low scorer, shooting an even-par 36 at Atkinson to tie Folk and a four-over 41 at Stonebridge Country Club in Goffstown – the toughest back-nine in the area according to Adams – to tie Keenan.
But Adams said his squad faces the toughest competition on the most difficult courses early and finishes against easier foes at more favorable venues.
“I like the way that sets up going into states,” he said. “I expect our averages to fall dramatically down the stretch, and I think that’s going to build up a strong mental approach going in. We should have a lot of confidence.”
That doesn’t guarantee another top-four finish, however.
“Unlike other sports, where you have quarterfinals, semis, and finals, in golf you get 18 holes in one day, so either you bring it or you don’t,” said Adams. “It all has to come together on the same day, and five golfers really need to step it up. Whether that means top three, top two, I don’t know. We still need to demonstrate a little more toughness on the road, in my opinion, before I make any type of prediction like that.”
In 2004, Salem finished third overall, the best finish in school history. Adams thinks this year’s squad can be better.