VASSALBORO — Leavitt golf coach Harry Haylock wasn’t thrilled with his team’s performance at the KVAC qualifier on Tuesday. But from the tone of disappointment came a ray of optimism.

The Hornets had always qualified well, and then performed below expectations at states. So, this year?

“Maybe we’re switching it around,” he said.

Indeed they were. Led by girls individual champion Jade Haylock’s 80 and Billy Visconti’s 81, Leavitt scored 330 at Natanis Golf Course’s Tomahawk layout to win its first Class B title. Cape Elizabeth (344) was second, followed by defending champion Yarmouth and Gardiner in a tie for third (351).

In the offseason, the Hornets lost the top girls player in the state in Ruby Haylock, now a two-time Maine Women’s Amateur champion. Minus its star, however, Leavitt still flourished.

“After losing Ruby, we just knew how much hard work it would be, and how much hard work it would take to replace her,” said Ruby’s sister, Jade, who won her second straight Class B girls individual title. “We’ve just put in all that hard work.”

Leavitt’s score of 337 in the qualifier was not up to its potential, Harry Haylock said. But on a chilly Saturday, shaving a few strokes proved more than enough to earn an elusive championship.

“I think the score could have been better than it was, but it was enough. It finally was enough,” Harry Haylock said. “You know how difficult it is to perform when you’re expected to be the champ. … Lucky for us, we pulled it off.”

Alexis McCormick shot an 83 and Aidan Lind had an 86 for Leavitt, while A.J. Davis carded a 91. The Hornets held off the Capers, led by Sam Ludington’s 79. Gardiner was led by individual runner-up Jack Quinn (73). Yarmouth, which was the favorite to defend its title, had only Quinn Federle (83) and Sebastien Martinez (85) under 90.

“Usually, you can get by with a kid having an off day and someone steps up,” Yarmouth Coach David Cousins said. “We just did not have enough to get it done today.”

The Class B boys individual title again went to Freeport’s Eli Spaulding, who carded an even-par 72. Spaulding shot 68 on the same course as a sophomore. This time, he was the picture of steadiness, making 16 straight pars after an opening bogey on 16 before birdieing the 15th to edge Quinn by one shot.

It wasn’t the only Freeport highlight. Reece Perry made a hole-in-one on the par-3 fourth.

“I did feel a little pressure for sure. I knew most eyes were on me,” Spaulding said. “But I knew I just had to stick to my game. … Take every shot one shot at a time, because I knew the opportunities were going to come.”

Spaulding knew where he stood going into the 14th, the first of back-to-back par-5s. He hit a shaky approach to rule out a birdie possibility on 14, but chipped to about 5 feet on 15 and made the putt he needed for his winning margin.

Lincoln Academy’s Kellen Adickes (75) was third, followed by Alex Grant (78) of Nokomis and Cape Elizabeth’s Ludington.

“I certainly wanted to make sure I made that one,” Spaulding said of his final putt. “It was right up the hill. Good to finish on birdie. (That) was awesome.”

Quinn, a freshman, was 5-over after 12 holes, but fought back with three straight birdies on 14, 15 and 16, then added a final birdie on No. 1.

“I knew I could come back. I knew I could turn it on,” Quinn said. “I started to slow my swing down, think a little bit more and take some deep breaths.”

Jade Haylock defended her girls individual title by edging McCormick, her teammate.

“It feels awesome. I’ve worked really hard for this,” Haylock said. “It came down to pretty close. I was like ‘Oh, shoot. If she pars out, we tie.’ “

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