Martlets Defeat AOF and Eaglebrook

The Martlets made their third trip of this successful season to Farmington Woods to take on the host Winged Beavers and the visiting Eagles. The weather was overcast, with a passing light shower or two, and the mercury falling steadingly through the afternoon. The JVs were ready for this tight, tree-lined course, and a team meeting and strategy session prior to departure emphasized the absolute necessity of keeping the ball in the short grass: fairways and greens, gentlemen, fairways and greens. This old coach knows all to well that, much like investing for retirement, playing a conservative game and keeping one’s head while others around you are losing theirs is the surest way to the winner’s circle. Led by Jack Fichthorn ‘26’s 40 – which including an agonizing lipout on the final whole – the team produced a workmanlike 213 to win both matches. The story of the day was the exciting finish: with the top five golfers in the house, the match was a dead-even, three-way tie at 218. As the third, fourth, and fifth groups came in, the Black and Gold saw their narrow lead slipping away, particularly when Avon produced a pair of 44s and Eaglebrook brought in a 42 and a 39 in the pivotal fourth and fifth spots. All three teams were on tenterhooks as the final threesome of the day played the closing hole. Really, any of the three teams could have won the match out of that threesome. But it was the gritty Colin Moody ‘25, playing in only his third match of the year and the Martlet’s anchor man today, who came home with the winning score of 44 to take the match. Moody showed no signs of the tension, palpable in the assembled faithful surrounding the 9th green, as he cooly chipped and putted his way into the hole. As Moody made his way to the scorer’s tent he was mobbed by his teammates in celebration. A great moment for the Martlets. In addition to Fichthorn’s 40, Blake Burke ‘25 carded a 41, Bryan Carey ‘24 a 43, Grant Owen ‘24 a 45, and Matteo De Luca ‘24 a 49. Jubilant in victory, the team headed to Chipotle to celebrate. The double-vicotries put the JVs at 12-4 for the season overall, a very strong 2024 campaign. Many thanks to the De Lucas for joining us at the course in support. And so ends this golf season. Thanks to the team for a great season and making it fun to head out to the course everyday – a special group of guys. I hope everyone has a great summer of golf ahead of them. See you on the tee!