Hachey was a four-year starter at Winthrop High School, where he helped the Ramblers to a Class C state runner-up finish in the team championships in 2013. Last season, he helped the Ramblers to the Class C title and finished second in the state individual tournament. Letourneau, who was a member of the Oxford Hills golf team for four years, was an all-KVAC selection three times. He also won a share of the 2013 state individual championship.
Now they’ve taken that success to St. Joseph’s College in Standish, and they’ve made an immediate impact on the Monks’ golf team.
“When I recruited them, I knew obviously a lot about their background and knew both were very good golfers,” St. Joe’s coach Jamie Smyth said. “They were coming into a program that had some room for them to step right in and contribute right away, and that’s exactly what they have done.”
Letourneau was named Great Northeast Athletic Conference rookie of the week for the fourth consecutive week Tuesday. He was also named the GNAC player of the week for the second week in a row. He finished with a 73 at the Thomas College Invitational last Wednesday to earn his first NCAA Individual Medalist award. At the Husson University Invitational, he shot a two-day score of 147 to finish fifth individually. St Joe’s won the team competition in both events.
Hachey shot 149 for a ninth place place finish at the Husson tournament and a 74 at the Thomas College event.
They aren’t necessarily surprised with their early success, either.
“Our coach, when I came for a visit, said the team needed a couple more players that could contribute to the team,” Hachey said. “I took him seriously, and it turned out every well.”
Letourneau almost gave up on playing in college all together last year after shooting a 88 during the team high school championships last October.
“Last year at team states, I was really contemplating quitting the game,” Letourneau said. “I shot an 88, and every time I tried harder, it seemed to go worse for me. I think that was the only time I stood back and I looked, and I was like, ‘Wow, am I on the downfall already? I am a senior in high school.’
“At the individuals the next week I had a rough go on the front nine, and I think I shot 12-over or something like that. The back nine I shot a couple under par, and I knew, lets keep practicing and keep going.”
Smyth wasn’t too worried about that 88.
“He texted me that night that he had a reality check that he shot an 88,” Smyth said. “That happens, that’s golf and occasionally those things happen. We are certainly glad that he didn’t quit golf.”
Letourneau spent time time leading up to the college season refining his putting.
“I play all the time, I work at a golf course, and over the summer, the biggest part of my game I spent a lot of time on the putting green,” Letourneau said. “That was one thing I needed to improve on in my game. I feel like I have done that with posting the scores that I have and playing the way that I have. I didn’t expect to have this much of an impact, but certainly I knew my capability and ability.”
Hachey also put the time in over the summer and Smyth said he’s one of they best short game players he has had in his 12 years of coaching the Monks.
“He actually played, I think, better, Smyth said. “I think if you ask him, he would even admit he has scored much better then he thought. In high school, he had a lot of sub-80 rounds and obviously was a very good high school golfer. He has really turned it up even more since he’s been in college. He has given us a lot of good low rounds which has helped our team immensely.”
Smyth said he’s also impressed with the way they haven’t appeared scared or nervous in the college tournaments.
The team is currently on a three-tournament win streak and the previous record of wins for a season for St. Joe’s was two in a season. The current streak started at the Maine Intercollegiate Championship at Fairlawn in Poland before the two wins at Husson and Thomas.
The team shot a 607 over two days, with Letourneau carding a 72 and 75, while Hachey came in with a 73 and 77.
“We went into that tournament and we knew it was going to be one of the more competitive tournaments with a lot of teams,” Hachey said. “We went in there, we knew what we had to do and we got it done.”
St. Joe’s also has two other tri-county golfer on the team: Ryan Godin of Oxford Hills and Brady Whetzel of St. Dominic Academy.
“They are working hard as well, and it’s a situation where we have a good rotation,” Smyth said. “They are both good golfers and when you have team this deep, it’s hard to get them into the rotation. Both are great kids and they both take golf seriously and work hard at it as well.”
Given their already-high profile at the top, though, Letourneau and Hachey are ready to help lead and build the program going forward
“I think the biggest thing was, for years and years now, St. Joe’s has been looked upon as a college golf team that hasn’t been great or hasn’t been that good,” Letourneau said. “Always finishing middle or lower end of the pack. With us knowing our capabilities, we wanted to put a stamp on St. Joe’s.”
So far, so good.
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