North Branford T-Birds' Golf Season Highlighted by All-Shoreline Selections

For the first time in Coach Tommy Fair's five-year tenure, the North Branford golf team was recognized with All-Shoreline honors with not one, but two golfers being named All-Shoreline.

The rare feat goes even further as Brendan Appi is the only freshman to ever be named First Team All-Shoreline in North Branford T-Birds' golf history. He was also nominated as a New Haven Register Player of the Week. Sophomore AJ Cooney earned Second Team honors.

"Brendan is a really good, talented freshman with a 5.5 differential over par and he's only going to get better," said Fair. "AJ was the backbone of the team, not just in terms of skills, but his commitment to the team, as well."

The T-Birds finished the 2011 season with a 7-5-1 record, improving on their Shoreline Conference standing over the past three years as they were 11th of 11 teams in 2009, eighth in 2010 and took fifth this season.

In the Shoreline Conference Tournament, which was held at North Branford's home course, Tradition in Wallingford, the T-Birds placed sixth. Fair was hoping for a higher finish. North Branford also fell short of its goal of qualifying for the state tournament, despite its solid record.

"We missed the Division III State Tournament by a one-stroke differential for the first time in my time with the team," said Fair. "It was definitely disappointing. We had some rainouts which forced us to miss matches which lowered our differential."

This year's shortcomings have helped the team solidify some goals for next year including returning to the state tournament and improving to a top-three finish in the Shoreline Conference.

This year's team boasted higher numbers than most years as Fair had 14 on the roster–most years he has eight or nine–due to a solid group of younger players. However, there will be two who won't return next year as they graduate tomorrow. Dave Puglisi and Nick Carlino were senior captains of the squad.

Other golfers who contributed this year included junior Tommy Steinke, who tried out and made the team for the first time this year. He played almost every match. He also joined the Junior PGA, along with some of his teammates, and won a spot in the Greater Hartford Open’s Pro-Am. 

Sophomore Nick Vorio also stepped up and to make the starting team for a few matches. Freshman Zac Augur also contributed.

"Next year I'll be counting on the returning starters to continue playing well and I'm hoping everyone will be playing two or three days a week–that’s the only way to get better," said Fair. "As far as talent, it was definitely one of the strongest and there’s no reason that next year can’t be better."