Sniezek Medals, Hoosac Valley Golfers Win Mount Anthony Tourney
BENNINGTON, Vt. -- On Tuesday, for the second year in a row, the Hoosac Valley golf team made a trip north of the state line.
This time, they went home with some hardware.
Henry Sniezek carded an 81 to earn medalist honors, and the Hurricanes finished one stroke ahead of Burr & Burton Academy to win the Patriot Classic at Mount Anthony Country Club.
Last year, the Hurricanes went north for a dual match against Mount Anthony Union High School, a trip that led to an invite to the Patriots’ annual fall tourney.
But the experience of playing the front nine at hilly MACC only went so far in preparing Hoosac Valley for Tuesday’s 18-hole event.
“It helped a little bit,” Sniezek said. “I was able to play the front a little better than I probably would have. But it’s really hilly and really sloped. It’s pretty tough.
“It’s a lot different. It’s kind of tough. You really have to hit your shots exactly where you want to have a good second shot or third shot or whatever.”
Sniezek edged BBA’s Ben Swinarton, who finished with an 82.
The Hurricanes combined for a team score of 354 with Luc Trombley (90), Corben Craig (91) and Colby Rougeau (92) backing up Sniezek.
The win snapped a six-year winning streak for Rutland, Vt., at the event, which was canceled by weather last fall.
On Tuesday, Hartford, Vt., was third with a 379. Rutland was fourth with a 380. And the host Patriots were last with a 445 despite an 86 from Andrew Marsden that was good for fourth among individuals.
Two schools fielded girls teams in the event. Jilian Miles medaled with a 93 to lead Rutland over Burr & Burton, 187-219; two girls’ scores were counted in the team scoring.
Sniezek’s day on the par-71 layout included birdies on two of the holes he has played before: the 110-yard, par-3 fourth and the 303-yard, par-4 ninth, Sniezek’s second hole in the shotgun start.
“I stuck [my tee shot] on the green, maybe 12 feet,” Sniezek said of the birdie on No. 4. “It was pretty nice.
“[On No. 9], I hit a driver off the tee, put it in the sand right next to the green. I hit a good sand shot and made like an 8-footer.”
Hoosac Valley coach Jay Sniezek said he was a little surprised his team won considering the scores it posted. But taking into account the challenging course, those scores don’t seem as high.
“It’s a lot different,” he said. “It’s ups and downs and short shots and placement shots. You use all the clubs, and you use all the shots. Forest Park [in Adams] kind of prepares us for this place, because we’re up and down there, too.
“When we got invited last year … I said yes because an 18-hole tournament gives us preparation for Western Mass, if we get there. And these greens are really fast, so that helps us in that regard for Western Mass. Last year, when we played the states down at Marshfield, they were really slick. So this just helps us for that.”
The reigning Western Massachusetts Division 2 champions continue their quest to return to the sectional on Wednesday when they host Wahconah at Forest Park.