Salem Observer : golf

Steady Salem wins another crown; Cohen fires top score

Salem Editor — Wed, 07 Oct 2009 19:16:00 GMT

BY MATT SCHOOLEY

While head coach Ben Adams said his golf team was underestimated by many entering the season, the Blue Devils ultimately overwhelmed the Class L competition for their second consecutive state title on Thursday, Oct. 1, at Stonebridge Country Club in Goffstown.

Unlike last year’s dominant effort, when six SHS golfers broke 80 and the team won by 15 shots, Salem did not post eye-popping numbers, but instead used consistency from its four scoring individuals to shoot 320, beating Pinkerton Academy by three strokes.

“Adversity reveals character,” said Adams. “Those kids were champions to begin with, but they flew under the radar. There were teams picked ahead of them, but they didn’t let it bother them. They believed in themselves, perhaps even more than I did, and they felt that once you’re a champion, you can’t take that away.”

Ed Haroian led the Blue Devils while carding a 78. Jeff Cohen scored a 79, Ryan Butler added an 80, and Ryan Greenleaf managed an 83 on the 18-hole track.

Kyle Gaudette, who fired an 87, and Andrew Santo, who scored a 94, also competed for the Blue Devils.

On Saturday, Oct. 3, at the same venue, Cohen made it a clean sweep of Class L events for Salem when he came away with the individual title. Playing on a wet course, the senior trailed by four strokes during the round before coming all the way back to win by two.

“Skill-wise Jeff has the ability to play at this level – and the next,” said Adams. “He has a sense of confidence that is very healthy. Sometimes you run into the issue of a bad hole derailing the whole match. He has the ability to allow a bogey or double bogey to be what it is, and just move on to the next hole.”

The victory served as revenge for the Blue Devils, who lost only three times during the season.

Two of those losses were to Pinkerton, the other to Bishop Guertin, which finished in third place at the Class L tournament. Adams said it was the play of two of his seniors, Cohen and Haroian, that was the biggest reason for the title.

“They stood up and did what they needed to do,” said Adams. “The two of them combined are probably the quietest seniors I have ever had. They let their actions speak for them.”

Filling the shoes of the graduating seniors next year are Greenleaf and Butler, who took sixth at the individual event this year.

Salem’s mentor said he believes his team can again use its consistency for a third consecutive title run.

“(Greenleaf and Butler) are now two-time champions,” said Adams. “One time is wonderful, but two times is a tradition. While they are enjoying this moment, they understand that the expectation is for them to continue that and for us to be a high-level golf program.”

Remarkable team effort gives Salem High School golf team the title – by 15 shots

Salem Editor — Thu, 09 Oct 2008 02:10:00 GMT

BY RYAN O’CONNOR

Sitting outside on the clubhouse deck, glancing at the familiar 135-acre landscape of rolling fairways and pristine greens, Marilyn Campbell sat expectantly, waiting for the storm to roll in.

Yet there wasn’t a dark cloud in the sky, and the only precipitation in the area were the tears swelling in Campbell’s eyes as she looked over her shoulder and saw score after score tallied on the large board behind her.

The forecast, you see, called for lightning in a bottle. And when the bolt struck, on Thursday, Oct. 2, it wasn’t a clap of thunder that could be heard in the distance, but Campbell’s hands pounding together until they were sore.

The smile on her face told the story.

Roughly 10 years ago, Campbell was dubbed the Salem golf team’s No. 1 fan, a banner she continues to carry proudly. Now she’s seen the Blue Devils hoist their first championship banner, and she couldn’t have been happier to see them earn it on their home course, her course – Campbell’s Scottish Highlands.

“I just wish my husband (Bernard W.M. Campbell) was here because the first year we were here he insisted on having a golf team (at SHS), and we paid for everything – the coach, the transportation, everything,” said Campbell. “I’m sure he’s up there watching now. This is wonderful. This is a dream.”

But the Class L tournament wasn’t originally supposed to take place in Salem. No, it was only months earlier, when the scheduled venue ran into financial difficulties, that Campbell was able to volunteer her course for the event.

“I like the term ‘perfect storm,’ the way this came together,” said Salem coach Ben Adams. “We graduated a tremendous senior class last year, and for our seniors and (junior) Jeff (Cohen) to really step up this year ... and to win it here, with Campbell watching ... it’s a special day.”

Still, Adams was quick to dismiss the notion that it was the home course advantage alone that made the difference.

“If we had won by a few strokes, maybe you could say it was the home course advantage,” he said. “But to have six players break 80 and win by 15, well, the kids just played their hearts out today.”

Last season, Salem sent four players to the individual championship. This year, six Blue Devils represented SHS during the tournament’s second day. Cohen, who carded a one-under 70 during team play – good enough for second place on day one – finished tied with teammate Nick Fairweather for fourth overall with a 36-hole 151.

Jeff was the second Cohen in less than a year to lead a Salem team to its first championship. His brother, Michael, guided the Blue Devils tennis team to a title in the spring.

“Jeff can do whatever he wants. His growth over the past year was just phenomenal,” said Adams. “And I have a lot of respect for the way he carries himself. He lets his actions speak rather than his mouth.”

Likewise, senior Corey Keenan, who proved to be a true leader throughout the season, had his best performance of the year during the team competition, said Adams.

Keenan shot a 78, and teammates Ryan Greenleaf, Ed Haroian and Ryan Butler also made the cut with scores of 74, 79 and 79, respectively.

John Pettoruto, who carded an 81, and Devin Redmond, who tallied an 84, also produced fine showings.

“Last year, I think we were just as good, maybe better,” said Keenan. “But this year we all just happened to play good on the same day.”

In contention – SHS finishes fifth, sends four to individual tourney

Salem Editor — Wed, 10 Oct 2007 15:24:00 GMT

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.”

Putting it together – Salem High has good shot at scoring state title

Salem Editor — Wed, 05 Sep 2007 19:52:00 GMT

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.