BY SAPNA PATHAK

While finishing in fifth place at the Class L team tournament, the Blue Devils qualified four golfers to compete in the individual tournament, the most any Salem golf team has advanced.

“We’ve never put more than two golfers in the individual match,” said Salem head coach Ben Adams. “There was absolutely tougher competition this year, and the fact that (Bishop Guertin) won, I wouldn’t call it a surprise, but it’s not a case of the predictable happening.”

Salem entered the team tournament on Thursday, Oct. 4, at Canterbury Woods, as the third seed with a 26-7 regular-season record. The match included the top 20 teams in Class L, with the top 10 teams allowed eight golfers each and the top five scores used as the final team score.

Teams 11 through 20 brought two golfers to compete for the chance to advance to the individual tournament. The top 24 golfers, including ties, moved on to the individual championship on Saturday, Oct. 6.

“The attitude in 2006 was a lot more intense than this year,” said Adams of his team’s approach. “We would’ve liked to do better, but they went into it wanting to have a good day. It was a beautiful day out there, and they really just wanted to enjoy it, especially the seniors.”

The Blue Devils finished with a final score of 398, 10 strokes behind champion Bishop Guertin of Nashua.

Seniors James Folk and Jon Longacre led the way, shooting a 77 and an 80, respectively. Tyler Vigue and Corey Keenan each shot an 80; Jeff Cohen shot an 81; Ed Harbian shot an 83; Garrett Moore shot an 84; and senior Steve Sullivan added a 95.

“When you send four of eight players to the individual tournament, you’re a contender,” said Adams. “Clearly the fact that half our guys placed among the top players in the state says something that our final score didn’t.”