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BY GARY HAWKINS Staff Writer 10/11/2008

The top two teams in the Class A division of the Kennebec Valley Athletic Conference will need to be on top of their games today at the high school team golf team championships at Natanis Golf Course.

Messalonskee defeated Cony for the KVAC title this week to complete an unbeaten season at 13-0 and earn an automatic bid to today's championship. Cony (12-1) earned a spot by winning the KVAC qualifier the following day.

Teams can enter five golfers in the tournament with the top four 18-hole scores counting toward the total. Both Messalonskee and Cony fielded strong teams of at least six players this season.

"We're playing at our home course," said Cony coach Tim Folsom, whose team shot 313 in qualifying. "It's probably the best team I've had. We've never been this deep."

This season, the Rams posted a nine-hole individual average below 40 while Messalonskee put up similar numbers. But defending Class A champion Thornton is considered the favorite.

"I saw Thornton shoot 308 (at Natanis recently), so I think we've got to play very well," Messalonskee coach Jim Kerschner said. "It's just a question of not having any blowup holes and having four people in the 70s."

Kerschner's Eagles will field a lineup that includes seniors Mike Bouchard and Cam Ray, junior Ben Roy and sophomores Jacob Roddy and Gavin Hannon. Cony will send out senior Jake McVety, juniors Tyler Moody, Josh Zayac and Ryan Minoty and sophomore Kyle Bonenfant.

Deering and Kennebunk won their respective divisions and could also threaten for the Class A title, along with Gorham.

Waterville, which qualified from the KVAC Class B ranks, is led by senior Ashton White and sophomore Cam Sawyer, both of whom qualified for next Saturday's individual championship. But the Purple Panthers face a strong contingent of teams from southern Maine, led by York which shot 306 in its qualifier.

Defending Class B champion Cape Elizabeth lost several players to graduation but still qualified. Falmouth is also among Class B contenders.

Madison qualified for the team title this week for the first time in 14 years, but may not have enough depth to contend for the Class C championship. The Bulldogs are led by the Sweet brothers, Seth and Zack, who shot 69 and 74, respectively, during the Mountain Valley Conference qualifier at Natanis this week.

St. Dom's is the defending Class C champion while North Yarmouth Academy is among this year's favorites.

Gary Hawkins -- 621-5638

ghawkins@centralmaine.com

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