Pymatuning Valley golf coach Jeff Compan takes pride in the fact that all 10 members of his team are productive. Again on Tuesday, that productivity paid dividends.
With a convincing 165-202 victory over Bristol at Andover Golf Club, the Lakers claimed their third consecutive Northeastern Athletic Conference championship. The win also marked the 24th consecutive victory in conference play.
“This is a very big thing for the guys,” Compan said. “They talk a lot about maintaining the streak.
“Success breeds success. I think it’s carried over.”
Seniors Neil Guman and Mac Thurber led PV (14-1, 11-0) to the clinching victory by each firing a 40 over the par-35 layout. Sophomore Eric Lane backed them up with a 42, while junior Adam Lane completed the scoring with a 43.
Sam Huey led Bristol with a 42, but his score was the only one for the Panthers that topped the Lakers’ six golfers. PV threw out a 44 from junior Frank Boggs and a 45 from sophomore Alec Gabriel.
But that’s the thing that has been PV’s modus operandi, especially this year.
“We’re a little less experienced than we have been in the past,” Compan said. “We don’t have any superstars who are going to shoot really low, but we have nine different guys on the team who have counted in varsity matches. We’ve got nine guys who are inside 45 for nine holes. That creates a lot of internal competition for varsity playing time.”
Among those who have also contributed are junior Roman Guman and freshmen Austin Blair, Chris French and Warren Kozlowski.
“Warren shot a 36 earlier this year, which tied for the low score on the team,” Compan said. “Chris has had several matches were he has shot in the 30s. They’ve really stepped up to being varsity golfers.
“I’m really proud of all the boys.”
— Karl Pearson
