BREWSTER — The Nauset Warriors girls golf team ignored challenging conditions and put on an entertaining show on Tuesday afternoon at the Captains Golf Course, defeating an undermanned Dennis-Yarmouth squad 5-1 to run its season record to 3-2.
On a warm but blustery day, the Warriors played solid golf and seemed to enjoy themselves. Brewster’s Addie Parrott, who plays number 8 for the team, had a hobby horse in her bag that provided a running gag for Parrott and three of her teammates. They were all playing together because Dennis-Yarmouth fielded only four players.
“This is the strongest the wind’s blown, but I know the team would rather play in the wind than the cold,” said Brian Hicks, who is in his third season of coaching the girls. “Early in the year we practice when it is 37 degrees and spitting rain, but they are tough about it.”
Captain Lucy Keigans had a humorous outlook on the conditions that was typical of her teammates’ views. “The wind is so frustrating, but on the Cape you get used to it,” she said. “We start practicing in March and wear three hoodies. Because of the temperature today, it really wasn’t that bad.” Sporting only a thin windbreaker, she was determined not to let the wind bother her. “I just listened to coach and didn’t hit the ball any harder than usual,” the senior from Wellfleet said.
Keigans clinched the team victory by winning her match over D-Y’s Riley Pescourt, 3 and 2. She has been playing for the varsity since eighth grade, and this was her first match playing as high as number 2. She started this season at number 4 and “weaseled my way up,” she said. Keigans was pleased with her win but admitted to being nervous. “I saw Coach Hicks over my shoulder and didn’t want to let him down.”
Another highlight was at the number 4 slot, where freshman Liliana Baroni won the first match of her career, 4 and 2. Her freshman teammate, Finlay Williams, from Orleans, also won her match out of the number 3 position, 2 up. Coach Hicks lauded the two freshmen as “great additions” to this year’s team.
Since the Dolphins only had four players, Nauset began the match ahead 2-0 due to forfeits in the number 5 and 6 slots. D-Y coach Traci Wyse understands the challenge her team faces in every match and remains upbeat and focused on individual improvement. “Before every match, I give each girl a goal and they try to achieve it,” she said prior to the start.
Wyse’s number 1 player, Kendra Hayes, a state tournament participant in three previous seasons, played inspired golf from the outset, earning the lone Dolphins win over Nauset sophomore Sophia Silvestri, 4 and 3. It was only Silvestri’s second loss of the season.
“It’s hard for Sophia because she is always up against the other team’s best player,” said Hicks, who encouraged a disappointed Silvestri after her match. “She works hard and has really earned the number 1 spot,” he said.
Hicks is positive about his team’s prospects for the remainder of the season. “We have more girls who really like the game than we’ve had before,” he said. He has a young team who “are really close in ability from numbers 2 through 8.” Hicks is optimistic that this will benefit them as the season progresses. “If we are going to beat the better teams in the league, we will have to have wins from our numbers 4 through 6,” he said.
The team was scheduled to host Monomoy at the Captains Golf Course on Wednesday and then face Barnstable on the road on Thursday at the Hyannis Golf Club.
