11/28/2008
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Staff photo by Joe Phelanfrom the Kennebec Journal
STATE HOUSE BALDACCI: CUT $63M MORE
Many happy returns in Richmond
Tax woes land on Whitefield
Rapist denied new trial
AUGUSTA MINDING A MINE
SPORT OF KINGS Falconry a blend of dedication and commitment
COLLEGE HOCKEY: Maine rallies but falls short against Boston College
COLLEGE ROUNDUP: Colby women win season opener at home tournament
All of today's:
News | Sports
from the Kennebec Journal
from the Morning Sentinel
WEDDING BURGLAR JAILED
Youths talk Turkey Day
Plenty of free Thanksgiving meals available
Turkey prices make for a happy holiday
Kennebec County Superior Court
POLICE
COLLEGE HOCKEY: Maine rallies but falls short against Boston College
COLLEGE ROUNDUP: Colby women win season opener at home tournament
All of today's:
News | Sports
from the Morning Sentinel
BY BILL STEWART
Staff Writer
Make that four straight for Ryan Gay.
The Gardiner Area High School senior enjoyed a spectacular fall on the heels of an even better summer to earn Kennebec Journal Golfer of the Year honors for the fourth consecutive year.
Gay finished in a tie for first place at Class A individual championship for the third consecutive year, although his 34 scoring average was up slightly from his junior year, when he finished with a 33.4.
Cony High School's Jake McVety and Tyler Moody were also considered.
Still, when it comes to Maine high school golf, no one did it better than Gay.
"Growing up in Maine, it makes you tougher," said Gay, who recently signed his letter of intent to play golf at the University of New Mexico, one of the top programs in the country. "The weather is different, the courses are different, so it helps you get prepared for anything."
Gay, who won the Maine Junior and Maine Amateur championships this summer, finished tied with David Gushee of Gorham at the Class A state meet at the Natanis Golf Course in Vassalboro. It was the third straight year that Gay tied Gushee for the title. Both shot 72s.
"I play up to the competition," Gay said. "If the players are better, then I play better."
Despite the success -- he didn't lose a match all season -- it was a struggle at times for Gay this fall.
During a time when most golfers begin to shut it down, Gay had to stay sharp after a whirlwind summer.
Not only did he win both the Maine Amateur and Maine Junior titles, but he was also busy playing on the American Junior Golf Association tour.
In late summer, Gay shined in the annual John D. Mineck Deutsche Bank Championship Junior Cup, earning a $20,000 scholarship. He was awarded the John D. Mineck Cup, given to the top golfer at the tournament in Hingham, Mass.
"It was tough," said Gay, who calls the Augusta Country Club his home course. "I had been playing well all summer and the biggest thing this fall was to keep doing what I was doing. Fall is when you wind down in golf. I didn't play nearly as well this fall as I did in the summer. I just tried to keep my game sharp."
And stay motivated, which was where Gardiner coach Ryan Madore came in.
"I knew he'd be worn out," said Madore, who, like Gay, is a former schoolboy champion. "He competed at a national level during the summer. The summer was the most important thing for him. He got what he needed to accomplish. But we sat down before the season and we put out some goals. We wanted to make sure he went undefeated and had a scoring average of under 33. As a coach, the biggest thing for me is that he had immediate goals."
Gay did go undefeated, but finished with a 34 scoring average.
"That goal wasn't going to be realistic, because we played a lot of par 36s and one par 37," he said.
Next fall, Gay will head to Albuquerque, N.M. to compete with the Lobos.
"We should have a good shot at winning the NCAAs next year," Gay said. "That would be pretty cool to be a part of. I'm very excited and can't wait to get out there."
Bill Stewart -- 623-3811, ext. 515
bstewart@centralmaine.com
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