Naugy showing improvement

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Naugatuck’s Zach Monck tees off on the first hole at Hop Brook Golf Course in Naugatuck April 17 against Watertown. Watertown won the match, 200-229. –LUKE MARSHALL

NAUGATUCK — The Greyhounds are starting to see positive results on the links from all the hard work they are putting in at practice.

Naugatuck still has a ways to get the scores down to be competitive and challenge opponents for the win column. However, the improvement made since the start of the season hasn’t escaped head coach Richard Troy or volunteer assistant coach Brian Schacht.

On Monday, Naugatuck took on the two-time reigning NVL champion Watertown at Hop Brook Golf Course. The Indians prevailed by a 200-229 margin.

Colin Sheedy shared the medalist honors with Watertown’s Drew Griffith as they both shot a 46.

“That was the best round we have shot so far and we had a lot of individual best rounds throughout the lineup,” Troy said. “All the hard work in practice is beginning to show.

“Every day different kids are stepping up and the moral on the team has been great. Colin, of course, is our leader and Zach Monck is improving to the point where we have a solid one and two in our lineup.”

Derek McGrath shot a career-best 58 against Watertown with Monck hitting a 60. Josh McFarland came through with a 65, including his first ever par on the fifth hole.

“We have a lot of first-year players, like Monck and McFarland, and they are getting better every time out on the course,” Troy said. “We had another younger player, Arbnor Mehmedi, shoot a 62 in his first ever varsity match in last Thursday’s 231-282 loss to Seymour.”

Naugatuck fell to St. Paul on Wednesday, 200-230, to drop to 0-4 on the season. Sheedy led Naugatuck by shooting a 50 against the Falcons (3-0). McFarland (60), Mehmedi (60) and Conor White (60) rounded out the scoring for Naugatuck.

The Greyhounds opened the season April 10 against Wolcott and dropped a 181-232 decision.

Sheedy led the way shooting a medalist round of 46 with Monck putting up a solid 51. Samantha Royka hit a 65 and McGrath came through with a 70.

“We are starting to build a rotation one through four with McGrath, Mehmedi and McFarland in the mix,” Troy said. “We have been using a different rotation of girls for the last two spots.”

Heading into the St. Paul match, Troy said it would include a JV match with the girls to give them some more experience in a competitive setting.

Naugatuck is scheduled to play Torrington on Thursday. The Greyhounds will be on the road on April 24 to play Holy Cross and Kennedy.

“I was pleased the way we played against a team like Watertown and I’m looking for us to get better every time out on the course,” Troy said.

This story has been updated from the version that appears in the April 21 print edition to include results through April 19.