Aidan Sullivan, contributing writer
The past fall sports season for the Nantucket High School Varsity Golf team was a very exciting season, despite the poor record. The team was lucky enough to get the opportunity to experience all three courses on Nantucket as well as lots of other courses on the Cape. With Coach Nate Roberts and Assistant Coach Devin Durand, the spirit of the team was held high throughout the year, and they were consistently challenged. The team was able to have a strong core of players that were constantly competing with each other in addition to their matches against other teams. One of the team’s best matches was against Cape Cod Academy at Wianno Golf Club; it was a 3 ½ to 2 ½ win with multiple Nantucket golfers shooting very good scores. This game showed that Nantucket was able to win in tight situations, even on a course they had never played before.
With a final record of 5-9, the high school team was unfortunately unable to compete in the playoffs. It was a disappointing ending to the season, but there are high hopes for the team next year with lots of young players growing more and more each year.
Despite this loss, three of Nantucket’s golfers participated in the Cape and Islands High School Golf Championship, selecting the best players from each team to take part. In this competition, one of the team’s golfers, Henry Kathawala, won the third place prize.
This season was made fun and an important experience for players by Coach Roberts, the head coach and Coach Durand, the assistant coach, both being helpful and supportive mentors to all of the players, helping them with their swings and putting as well as giving them tips on how to mentally prepare for a match. They also were very funny, cracking jokes and bringing positive energy and joy to the team, even when spirits had fallen.
With five seniors from this past season ending their high school golf careers, the seniors have been able to carry out a successful season and be huge leaders for the team and the young players that are working their way up during their time. Their help will allow the team to grow in the coming years and spark a bright future for the golf program. Every year, more and more students are joining the golf program, showing an increase in interest in the sport.
Half-way through the season, the golf team had a wonderful opportunity and experience to volunteer at the US Mid-Amateur Championship hosted at Sankaty Golf Club. This championship, held yearly by the United States Golf Association, pits hundreds of some of the best post-college amateur golfers against each other, to compete for the prestigious title. This year, Steward Hagestad won his second cup. It gave the high schoolers a chance to get community service while also learning some things from the golfers that they watched. The student golfers were even given time to play a round on the Sankaty course. With all of these wonderful opportunities and events, the 2021 golf season was a big success and an exciting glimpse into what the 2022 season has to offer.
Veritas 
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