With a new women鈥檚 golf team at the 杏吧传媒 set to begin competition in a matter of weeks, the mission of the Husky Golf Classic is more important than ever.
The annual tournament is a major fundraiser for the golf program. Up until this year, USM has only fielded a men鈥檚 team. The addition of a women鈥檚 team means the money will need to stretch even further. No one understands this better than the coach of both teams, Brian Bickford.
鈥淭o say that this is just another golf tournament would be not accurate,鈥� Bickford said. 鈥淚t is the important fundraiser.鈥�
Bickford was pleased with the large turnout. The field of competition included 151 golfers divided into 38 teams. They all descended on the Poland Spring Golf Course and Resort on August 5.
Good weather is vital to any tournament鈥檚 success, and the forecast was dicey. A sunny morning was expected to give way to a rainy afternoon. The storms never materialized, but Bickford didn鈥檛 know that when he gave his opening remarks.
鈥淭he outlook looks pretty good, as long as people play fast,鈥� Bickford quipped. 鈥淲e have this saying in golf; I took it from a famous golf pro. 鈥楶lay well, play fast. Play poorly, play faster.鈥� And that would never be more evident than today.鈥�
The teams spread out across the entire18-hole course and teed off at the same time in a shotgun start. They played in a scramble format, which dictates that everyone can drop their ball next to their team鈥檚 best tee shot and continue from there. Players were less concerned with posting the lowest score than having the most fun.
Ralph Hendrix also had a personal reason to dust off his clubs. He鈥檚 the former CEO of the South Portland-based accounting firm Macpage. Hendrix is also a longtime friend of USM Director of Athletics Al Bean. With Bean set to retire at the end of the month, this Husky Golf Classic would be the last of his tenure. Hendrix wanted to make it special.
鈥淚t鈥檚 a great feeling,鈥� Hendrix said. 鈥淚 was helped when I was a kid. I grew up like Al; we didn鈥檛 have much money. USM helped me, and I want to give back to the community.鈥�
The support that Hendrix offers to students extends beyond his contributions to the Athletics Department. He鈥檚 hired many USM graduates over the years. One of them is Drew Baker. He accompanied Hendrix to the Husky Golf Classic in a foursome that also included former USM baseball player Brendon Joyce, and Hendrix鈥檚 daughter, Theresa Arsenault.
Everywhere you looked on the fairway, there were familiar faces from the USM community. President Jacqueline Edmondson played on a team with her husband, Michael. Provost Adam Tuchinsky and Executive Director of Facilities Management John Souther also came ready to play.
Participation was especially enthusiastic from the coaching ranks. Their put their own money back into the system to support the golf teams and other needs across the broader Athletics landscape.
Field hockey coach Bonny Brown-Denico, men鈥檚 soccer coach Jim Hopkins, and men鈥檚 lacrosse coach Sam Manders played on a team together. Brown-Denico admitted to being the weak link. As skilled as she is with a field hockey stick, her swing doesn鈥檛 easily translate to a golf club.
鈥淕olf is much more challenging,鈥� Brown-Denico said with a laugh. 鈥淭hought I would be a great golfer and not so much. But getting some tips from other people is slowly helping.鈥�
Former baseball coach Ed Flaherty retired at the end of the spring semester. He redirected a lot of his competitive energy to golf over the following weeks. Despite an intimidating 9 handicap, he went into the Husky Golf Classic with a dim view of his chances.
鈥淚 think it hurts my swing because I play more, and my back is bothering me now,鈥� Flaherty said.
Maybe it was modesty or reverse psychology. Either way, Flaherty鈥檚 team finished with a tournament-best net score of -14. President Edmondson鈥檚 team turned in the top gross score of -26 with the caveat of being one of the only threesomes in a tournament where foursomes were standard.
Golfers also had a chance for individual honors in several skills competitions. Theresa Arsenault was the women鈥檚 winner for longest drive, and Tucker Buteau was the men鈥檚 winner. The man with the closest shot to the pin was Josh Daye, and for the women, it was Georgia Gould. She also won the putting contest in a four-way tiebreaker.
Before Gould or anyone else set foot on the practice green, they had to check in with Jackson Horne at the registration table. He was one of a handful of student athletes who helped with tournament operations. The job gave him a new appreciation for all the people who contribute to his athletic career.
Horne is a Business Management major, heading into his sophomore year. As a member of the golf team, putting is his specialty. He鈥檚 working to improve the other parts of his game to help the team reach the next level in Little East Conference (LEC) postseason play.
鈥淟ast year, my scoring average was 80. I鈥檇 like that to be around 77 this year. I think that鈥檚 a good goal,鈥� Horne said. 鈥淚鈥檇 also like to compete in LECs as a team. That would be nice. We got third last year. It would be nice to go for first.鈥�
That goal will get a big boost from the money raised at the Husky Golf Classic. The registration fees and other contributions added up to about $35,000. Once it鈥檚 divvied up, about $20,000 will go to the golf teams.