VASSALBORO — Nothing was going to stop Mt. Ararat High School senior Caleb Manuel. Not even a little rain.
Manuel shot a 63 to lead all golfers Tuesday at the Kennebec Valley Athletic Conference golf qualifier at Natanis Golf Course. The mark not only beat the cut to qualify for the individual state championships Oct. 12 by 22 strokes, it also set a new Tomahawk Course record.
Manuel’s score was 13 shots better than the next lowest score — that came from Mt. Ararat teammate Parker Bate, Lewiston’s Parker Thibeault and Ruby Haylock of Leavitt. The outing was more impressive considering the conditions were less than ideal. Rain made the course slow-playing in some spots. It also provided soft greens.
“The greens were kind of soft (due to the rain), so on wet shots and approach shots, they weren’t rolling out; they were kind of sticking to the pin,” Manuel said. “I think softer conditions is a little bit easier out here, so you can just keep it around the pin, know what the bounce (on the green) is going to do.”
Tuesday’s event also established the competitors for the State Individual Championship at Natanis on Oct. 12. Manuel and Bate will be joined by teammates Ty Henke (83) and Eli Schoenberg (85). Alex Witwicki (99) and Colby Merryman (102) also competed for the Eagles.
Brunswick finished in 11th place with a 384. Ben Garrison (89), Sean Lyne (94), Spencer Marquis (98), Ben Wilson (103),
Mt. Ararat golfer Caleb Manuel, here teeing off at Brunswick Golf Club, set a course record at Natanis Golf Club in Vassalboro on Tuesday in the KVAC Qualifier, firing a 9-under par 63 to lead his Eagles to the title for the second straight season. Manuel leads Mt. Ararat, the defending State Class A champion, into the 2019 state championship on Saturday back at Natanis. (Bob Conn / The Times Record)
Hunter Lord (108) and Ben Jones (108) were in action for the Dragons.
The score was no shocker to Manuel, who tied the previous course record of 64 during his practice round.
“I know the qualifying score was pretty high, and I’ve been playing pretty good this fall and this summer,” Manuel said. “I was just kind of setting my own goal and get as far under par as I possibly could. I didn’t have a setback, didn’t have a bogie out there. I birdied the first hole, and I eagled (the third hole), and I got off to a hot start, making putts and hitting it close (to the pin).”
Thanks to the low scores from Manuel and Bate, Mt. Ararat (307) finished with the lowest team score in Class A by 28 strokes, and will lead the pack into the State Class A championship match Saturday at Natanis. The Eagles were followed by Messalonskee (335), Lewiston (341), Edward Little (346) and Hampden (351), all which qualified for states.
Leavitt finished with a team score of 348 to top the Class B field. The Hornets will be joined at the Class B championships Saturday with Belfast (362), Waterville (365), Medomak Valley (378) and Gardiner (380).
Morse shot 426 to finish 11th in Class B, led by Wade Bradford’s 93. Gaige Kindlimann (103), Tanner Hennin (103), Enzo Giavanazzi (127) and Wes Wallace-Craney (129) also competed.
The cut for Class A players for the individual championships was 85, and 90 for Class B players.
Female players who shot less than 100 qualified for the girls individual championship, also scheduled for Oct. 12.
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