Stephen Winslow ’10 smashed a 300 yard rocket on to the final hole at Trull Brook Golf Course last Thursday, setting up an easy birdie that secured a crucial best ball match for Andover. Despite Winslow’s clutch play, Andover fell to a deep Belmont Hill squad 5.5 to 6.5, and suffered its first loss of the season. Andover’s first pairing had Ben Ho ’11 at the one spot and Steve Winslow ’10 at the two spot. Ho drained two downhill sliders of over 40 feet for birdies on both the second and third holes as he quickly went three up through three holes en route to a four and three victory. Winslow struggled off the tee for most of the round and fell to a talented Belmont Hill golfer on the top of his game. Although Winslow lost his match 4 & 2, he saved the pair’s bestball match with a birdie on the ninth hole. The duo’s two combined points provided a strong start for the team. Andrew Lee ’10 and James Poss ’10 played in the three and four spots and racked up 2.5 total points for the team. Poss led the way with a fantastic round, shooting just one over par. However, Andover’s next four golfers only managed to win a single point. Despite a strong win by Dylan Cahill ’10 after he sunk a 40 foot bomb for birdie on the seventh hole, Andover’s big lead disintegrated as the bottom of the ladder struggled to finish a resilient Belmont Hill team. After a tough loss, Andover sought for redemption against Holderness. Coming off the tough loss to Belmont Hill, Andover got back on its game and won handily against Holderness at the Cambell Scottish Highlands Golf Course in Salem, NH. Although winds of over 20 miles per hour caused problems for the golfers, Andover’s top six controlled the trajectories of their shots played consistent golf, working towards a final score of 5.5 to 3.5. Once again Ho and Winslow led the way for Andover in the one and two spots respectively. Both golfers won their individual matches 4 and 3 and also won their best ball match, giving Andover three points. Ho sank several key puts and Winslow relied on long drives as the pair outlasted their opponents. On the 460 yard fourth hole, Winslow displayed his power game as he annihilated a 300 yard three wood, followed by a deft wedge shot from 140 yards to win the hole for the duo. At the number three spot was Poss, who won his match with his huge drives and great putting. Captain Billy Fowkes ’10 lost his individual match from the four spot, but paired with Poss to tie their bestball match and secure one and a half out of three points. Cahill and freshmen Shin Jae Lee ’13 combined for just a single point, with Cahill overwhelming his opponent. “Being able to pull out a victory at a place we are unfamiliar with is always a nice thing. Hopefully our play this week will carry over into the matches next Wednesday and Saturday. The first few weeks have been promising and we look forward to continuing our winning season,” said Fowkes. Andover will face off against Proctor next Wednesday.
