By MICHAEL LETENDRE
STAFF WRITER
Scholastic golf is reaching a fever pitch at St. Paul Catholic High School but it’s just not a boys sport anymore.
In fact, the Naugatuck Valley League has several female competitors and some of its top golfers are part of the Falcons’ new program.
That included senior Julia Dolce, the captain of the squad, and Alyssa Daley who – just this past week, won the first ever Greyhounds Girls Invitational Golf Tournament, played from the Hop Brook Golf Course in Naugatuck on Tuesday, May 17.
And in impressive fashion, the Dolce/Daly duo won the event
In the program’s first major event of the season, that was a big deal.
But Dolce isn’t some rookie golfer as she has been teeing it up for the Falcons over the years.
“Last year I played on the boys’ team,” said Dolce. “However, this year we had more than 10 girls come out for the team. We are currently playing matches against other schools in the NVL conference.”
Dolce and Daley actually defeated teammates Sommer Prime and Bella Hamelin (53) by five strokes.
“I won medalist honors with a score of a 50,” said Dolce. “Additionally, my teammate, Alyssa Daly, and I won the tournament for St. Paul with a best ball score of 48.”
And when Dolce’s scholastic career is over for the Falcons, she won’t be done playing the sport she loves.
Westfield State University, a NCAA Division III program, is the place where Dolce will be competing at next fall as a freshman.
“I know that girl’s golf is a growing sport and more and more colleges are starting girl’s golf teams,” said Dolce. “As for myself, I was offered spots on several women’s’ golf teams at colleges in New England. Next year I will be playing on the women’s’ golf team for Westfield State University.”
The well-spoken senior enjoyed St. Paul’s first home match at West Woods golf course in Farmington on Tuesday, May 24 and on June 2, the NVL is having a girls-only championship, commencing from the Watertown Golf Club.