After knocking at the door for several years, Scarborough’s golf team kicked it down and got to experience the sweet taste of a first Class A state championship Saturday at Natanis Golf Course in Vassalboro.

The Red Storm, after a 10-0 regular season, found themselves embroiled in a down-to-the-wire thriller at states, but their four-player combined score of 318 was two strokes better than Greely and Falmouth (the Rangers claimed second place on a tiebreaker).

Scarborough was paced by Drew Kane, who shot an 18-hole round of 75. Mitchell Wedge (80), Braeden Kane (81) and Nate Roberts (82) also scored, while Chandler Langlois’ round of 89 wasn’t factored in.

“We made history and it was pretty cool,” said Red Storm coach Mike Murphy. “We believed this year. We had some very good teams in the past, but this group believed in themselves and in each other. I thought we were one of six teams who had a shot. It’s a one-day crapshoot. There was a lot of mental pressure, but the kids stayed composed. They trusted their swings and they trusted themselves. We had to wait 30 minutes after the match, but then other coaches came up to me and congratulated me and I believed it. It was surreal for us.”

Scarborough’s balance was the difference.

“The formula (at Natanis) is to shoot a couple 70s and some low 80s,” Murphy said. “Wedge had a 10 on the second hole and was beside himself. I told him he still had three-and-a-half hours to play. His settling down to shoot an 80 was one of the most impressive things I’ve seen. That was probably the key round. It gave us hope. Drew’s 75 was huge because it erased other errors. Braeden was key. Nate shooting 82 as the five man was big.”

The Red Storm graduates Braeden Kane and Langlois, but should be very strong in 2015.

Now that it’s gotten over the hump, don’t be surprised if Scarborough wins it again next fall.

“We’ll be starting from good place next year,” Murphy said. “It would be nice to do it again. The kids have something to shoot for.”

Meanwhile, in Class B, Cape Elizabeth hoped to win a title of its own, but its round of 327 left it 14 shots behind Camden Hills.

The Capers did produce the best individual round in any class, as standout Reese McFarlane shot a 67. Also scoring were Ryan Collins (85), Nate Ingalls (87) and George Mackenzie (88). Lauren Schonewolf’s 95 wasn’t factored in.

“I knew that we would have to play really well as a team and we didn’t,” said Cape Elizabeth coach Tim Desmarais. “Camden Hills had a very strong team again this year and I knew we would have to have a few rounds in the 70s to win. We had zero rounds in the 70s and that was the ball game. I’m very proud of my team for their attitude and poise as they finished runner-up yet again.”

The Capers graduate Ingalls, Mackenzie and McFarlane, but hope to make another run at the top next fall.

“I’m very confident in the next couple of years,” Desmarais said. “With a stacked group of underclasses we will be in the running to capture a state title. We keep knocking on the door and eventually it will open and we will walk through it.”

Individuals

The final act of the golf season takes place Saturday back at Natanis when individuals will vie for boys’ Class A, B and C championships and an all-class girls’ title.

Sports Editor Michael Hoffer can be reached at mhoffer@theforecaster.net. Follow him on Twitter: @foresports.

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Meet your new Class A golf state champions, the Scarborough Red Storm, who finished atop the heap for the first time in program history.

From left: Robbie Hatem, Mitchell Wedge, Chandler Langlois, Coach Mike Murphy, Braeden Kane, Drew Kane, Nate Roberts and Brogan Kane.

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