Experience, wins mount

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Ryan Warner (pictured) and Mike Erickson have led the Woodland golf team to three more wins already than all of last season. –FILE PHOTO
Ryan Warner (pictured) and Mike Erickson have led the Woodland golf team to three more wins already than all of last season. –FILE PHOTO

BEACON FALLS — Despite some close losses, the Woodland golf team has already surpassed last year’s win total.

The Hawks dropped to 7-7 after finishing seven strokes behind Naugatuck on Monday afternoon.  Woodland’s Ryan Warner shot a team-best 40 at the par-36 Hop Brook course.

Mike Erickson and Owen Harris both shot 45s at Hop Brook. Zach Crowell took a 52 and Alec Feducia had a 57.

“We had four wins all of last season,” Woodland head coach Bill Carangelo said. “We’re already at seven this year.”

The last two weeks have featured the same recurring theme for Woodland — quality individual rounds, but team efforts that fell short.

Since May 12, Woodland has lost four straight matches by eight strokes or fewer. The Hawks lost to St. Paul by eight strokes on May 15 and fell to Holy Cross by six on May 13.

Against St. Paul, Warner shot a 41 and Erickson shot a 42. In the Holy Cross match, four Hawks shot under 50: Erickson (39), Harris (47), Warner (47) and Andy O’Dell (49).

Woodland lost by two strokes to Watertown on May 12 (191-193) at Crestbrook Park. Warner fired a 42 for medalist honors and Erickson shot a 43.

“Mike and Ryan have been our anchors all season long,” Carangelo said. “They’ve been scoring consistently well for us.”

The Hawks are scheduled to be back to action Thursday in the Chappa Tournament before returning to Oxford Greens on Friday against Kennedy and Wolcott. Carangelo said he expects the team to improve and make a run at 10 wins.

And with each match, the team gains more experience. The team has only one senior in O’Dell and could be shaping up for championship contention over the next year or two. This year’s Naugatuck Valley League championship tournament will be June 5 at the Watertown Golf Club.

“I expect we’ll win a few more matches,” Carangelo said. “This team has the potential to make a run next year.”