CANTON, May 24 – Sometimes you need a little luck to win a championship. The Canton High boys golf team came close in its quest for a NCCC championship this spring but the Warriors won’t finish any higher than second.
A day after beating Avon for the first time in 14 years in a non-league contest, the Warriors and Avon battled to a 160-160 deadlock at Blue Fox in Avon that clinched the league title for undefeated Coventry.
The Patriots ended the week with a 10-0 record in the league with two matches remaining. Canton is 7-2-1 in the league with two matches left with Enfield and Granby. Avon is third at 6-3-1 with two matches remaining.
Coventry got the benefit of playing Avon and Canton in a three-day span on its own home course at Skungamung Golf Club in Coventry earlier this month.
On Tuesday, May 11, the Patriots beat Avon by four strokes, 152-156. Two days later, the Patriots were even more impressive in a 147-159 win over Canton. Four Coventry players broke 40 with scores of 38, 34, 36 and 39. Mark Amoroso in the fifth spot led the Warriors with a 36 while Blayne Houlihan at No. 2 shot a 38. Brad Parliament shot a 41 while David Roux and Jon Phelps each had a 44.
Still, Canton coach Bill Phelps is pleased with the progress of his team. “They’re shooting some great scores,” he said. “They’re doing very well.”
Amoroso has surged in the past few weeks and three-time All-State Ryan Allen is back after missing the first half of the season after breaking his leg in February while ice skating. In his first match of the season, Allen shot a 37 and shared medalist honors with Parliament in a 153-192 win over East Granby on May 17 – Canton’s lowest score of the season.
The next day, Canton (10-2-1, 7-2-1 NCCC) snapped a 25-match losing streak against Avon with a 157-160 victory over the Falcons and Wethersfield (165) at Wethersfield Country Club in wet, rainy conditions. It was Canton’s first win over Avon since 1996.
Houlihan was medalist with a one-over par 36 while Allen shot a 37. Parliament had a 41 and James Soloman shot a 43. Cameron Riccio and Justin Fishler each had a 38 for Avon. “Winning at a neutral course in bad weather was phenomenal,” Phelps said.
Earlier in the month, Parliament had a 36 while Houlihan shot a 38 in a 157-213 win over Stafford at Tower Ridge in Simsbury. Parliament has been medalist four times this spring.
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