CANTON, June 17 — A sixth place finish at the CIAC Division IV tournament was the highest that a Canton High boys team has ever achieved. Still, the Warriors were a bit disappointed with their performance at Crestbrook Park in Watertown.
Canton was just six shots behind the winner, Trinity Catholic of Stamford with a 330. The Warriors shot a 336 but struggled on the green. Shots that normally stuck to the green at their home course (Tower Ridge in Simsbury) rolled right off the green.
“Maturity had a lot to do with it,” Canton coach Bill Phelps said. “We weren’t used to that. We’re still young and we made some silly mistakes but we’ll be back.”
Other teams with older players handled the adversity a little better. Canton was just two strokes out of second place, which went to St. Paul and Northwest Catholic with 334. Blayne Houlihan led the way with a 79, followed by Ryan Allen with an 82. Dave Roux shot a 84 while Brad Parliament and Jon Phelps each shot a 92.
Allen earned All-NCCC honors while Allen and Houlihan were selected to the All-State squad. Canton’s entire team will return next spring. Allen, Houlihan, Parliament and Phelps are each juniors while Roux is a sophomore.
GIRLS GOLF: In just its third varsity season, Canton finished sixth out of 15 teams in the CIAC tournament at the Orange Hill Country Club on a rainy afternoon. The Warriors shot 400 on the 18-hole course. Weston won the championship with 375 while Farmington (385) and Simsbury (386) were second and third, respectively.
“It was a much longer course than other courses we have played and the kids were a bit nervous,” Canton coach John Manners said.
Senior Tessa Newell led Canton with a 98 while freshman Nikki Liucci had a 99. Sophomore Megan Roux (100), junior Kelly McAlindin (107) and sophomore Sarah Getz (113) rounded out the top five.
Some players had a rough time on the course and on another day, Canton could have been contending with New Canaan (390) and Greenwich (393), who finished fourth and fifth, respectively.
But Manners was thrilled with the season. Canton (16-5, 9-1 SCGGL) won its second straight Southern Connecticut Girls Golf League championship and won 11 of its first 12 matches. All five starters earned some All-SCGGL recognition.
McAlindin was a first team selection to the SCGGL’s All-Star team while Newell, Getz, Liucci and Roux were all named to the All-SCGGL’s second team.
“We don’t have a real standout player but we have five solid players,” Manners said.
Canton was the only Class S team that qualified for the state tournament. Avon was ninth with 404.
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