The women’s golf team had a strong start to its season, finishing in first place at the Bowdoin Invitational last weekend, while the men’s team is looking to improve after a disappointing ninth-place finish. Both teams are hoping to have a strong showing at the upcoming Maine State Championship this weekend.

The women’s team had a dominant all-around performance. Caroline Farber ’20 led the Polar Bears, winning the tournament with a two-day total of 160 shots, eight strokes better than the second-place finisher. Captain Haley Friesch ’18 finished third, Diya Chopra ’18 placed fourth and Emme McCabe ’20 came in fifth.

Friesch  is confident that her team can claim the Maine State Championship for a second year based on its strong performance at the Bowdoin Invitational against Bates and Husson, who will also be competing for the state title.

“Last year was the first time we played in the Maine State Championship, and we won. So we are hoping to do that again and hold onto our title,” Friesch said. “Since we did so well this weekend, I think we are all pretty confident going into it.”

This year, the women’s golf team is comprised of all returning players and includes two sophomores and four seniors. Friesch felt that this experience, along with the home course advantage, contributed to the successful start of the season.

“Our team is doing really well this year. Everyone is a returning player, so I feel we are more comfortable and adjusted to tournament life and structure,” she said. “[Brunswick Golf Club] is also our home course, so we play it everyday and feel really comfortable on it.”

On the men’s side, captain Thomas Dunleavy ’20 was not satisfied with the team’s performance last weekend.

“We didn’t really compete with the teams in our tournament,” he said. “It was a little disappointing. On an overall standpoint, it was not our best.”

According to Dunleavy, it will not be an easy road to make a comeback this weekend for the team.

“We would like to win [the Maine State Championship],” he said. “That’s our goal, but it’s going to be hard. There’s some good teams. Husson is very good, so it’s going to take a good effort from all five guys competing.”

The men’s golf team has many first years playing this season, including Michael Donovan ’21 who is hopeful for a better outcome at the Maine State Championship and believes his team can pull it off.

“We’ve got some really good players. We didn’t play our best this weekend, but we have a lot of potential,” he said. “If we put together four or five good rounds on both days, there’s a decent chance of doing really well.”

Dunleavy believes that the first years are definitely helping the team, especially as they gain more experience.

“[The first years] are improving,” he said. “There’s a lot of work to be done. They are good players with a lot of potential.”

The men’s and women’s golf teams will travel to Martindale Country Club this weekend to compete in the Maine State Championship.