VASSALBORO, Maine — Taylor Morang strode from the 17th green toward the 18th tee, his head high after his seventh birdie-or-better of the day. To his right, teammate Ben Caprara was on an adjacent tee box.
“You doing OK?” Morang asked with nonchalance.
The pair exchanged a few words, and Morang walked away.
Morang, Caprara and the rest of the Winthrop High School golf team were doing just fine.
Led by Morang’s 4-under 68, the Ramblers lived up to their billing as pre-tourney favorite and collected a team total 315 strokes, nine better than surprise runner-up St. Dominic Academy, to earn the school’s second Class C state golf championship.
Camden Hills successfully defended its state title in Class B, while Scarborough won the Class A title championship.
“There’s a lot more pressure being the top team,” Winthrop coach Lonney Steeves said. “And look who finished in second. I knew that team from Auburn had to be beat before we got one.”
Morang’s score was easily the best in Class C on Saturday, and second in all classes to Reese MacFarlane of Cape Elizabeth’s 67.
Anthony Owens’ 81 was the third-best score for Winthrop on the day. Adam Hachey posted a 77, leaving the fate of the team finish in the hands of Zach Robertson and Caprera.
“The top three guys, everybody knows,” Steeves said, “but Zach and Benny, all season long, they’ve been consistent.”
Robertson’s 89 was the Ramblers’ fourth counting score.
Perennial contender Houlton placed third in Class C, two strokes behind the Saints at 326. Mattanawcook Academy of Lincoln (337) and Madison (349) rounded out the top five.
Tightly bunched
Class A was a shootout this season, as expected.
The Scarborough Red Storm powered through the field to earn a breakthrough title. Drew Kane led the way with a 3-over 75 on the Tomahawk Course at Natanis. Mitchell Wedge (80), Braden Kane (81) and Nate Roberts (82) finished in the scoring for the Storm.
Nick Mazurek of Oceanside High School of Rockland/Thomaston shot the low score for the day in Class A with a 70.
Greely of Cumberland Center and Falmouth shot identical 320s to tie for second, but Greely earned the position on a tiebreak. SMAA champion Thornton Academy of Saco placed fourth at 322, led by phenom Hashilla Rivai, who shot a 74.
Mt. Ararat of Topsham was the top Eastern Class A school in seventh position (334), followed by Bangor in eighth (336).
In Class B, Camden Hills repeated as champion with a tourney-low 313. Daulton Wickenden fired a 69 to lead the Windjammers. Julian Starbird fired a 78, and Drew Holt added an 80.
Cape Elizabeth (327), Maine Central Institute of Pittsfield (329), Old Town (338) and Erskine Academy of South China (342) rounded out the top 5. Caribou was sixth at 344.
MCI’s Carter Pearl and Gavin Dugas were third and fourth among the individual scorers in Class B at 76 and 77, respectively.