Fort Fairfield High School’s Michael Bruce was poised to win his first state Class C individual golf championship last year.
He knew he was leading going into the final hole at the Natanis Golf Course in Vassalboro, a 386-yard par four.
Then disaster struck.
Bruce wound up carding a seven-over-par 11 on the final hole so instead of capturing the state title, he wound up seventh.
“I hit it into the water three times,” explained Bruce.
But that is nothing more than a distant memory now because Bruce didn’t hit it into the water at the final hole at the State C Golf Championship two weekends ago and earned the title with a five-over-par 77, two shots better than Spruce Mountain of Jay’s Alex Grimaldi.
He became just the second golfer from Fort Fairfield to capture the state title after Robbie Watson in 2013.
Bruce explained that he didn’t feel any pressure going into the final hole at Natanis this year “because I didn’t think I was winning. So I didn’t think about (my shot) and I hit it over the water.”
The 17-year-old senior said his 2023 collapse provided him with extra motivation heading into this year’s tournament.
“That gave me even more reason to win,” he said.
His victory had some adversity right off the bat.
“I had a seven on the first hole but it was par-five so it wasn’t too bad,” said Bruce.
He was satisfied with his round but it wasn’t his best.
“I didn’t putt very well. But I didn’t make many mistakes,” said Bruce, who would like to continue his golf career in college with the University of Southern Maine and Bangor’s Husson University among the schools he is considering.
Bruce said it would have been nice to win back-to-back state titles but to bounce back and win it this year after last year’s collapse “makes it even more special.”
The son of James and Melissa Bruce began playing with his dad when he was 3.
“It’s relaxing. I always want to play,” said Bruce who finished tied for fifth as a freshman and ninth his sophomore year.
Maranacook of Readfield won the team competition in C for the second time in three years with a 347, three shots better than Dexter and four ahead of Kents Hill. Fort Faifield was fourth at 352, one stroke better than Houlton.
Hodgdon’s David Tuttle was third in the individual competition with an 81.
The top three in the girls individual competition were Amelie Zachrinson of Kents Hill (93), Laurel Sleeper of Mt. Abram (98) and Abby Theriault of Lincoln’s Mattanawcook Academy (101).
Gardiner captured its first ever B title with a 347, 12 shots better than Morse of Bath and 13 better than Belfast. Yarmouth (361) and York (364) rounded out the top five.
After finishing second to Freeport’s Eli Spauding the last two years, Gardiner’s Jack Quinn shot a 76 to triumph followed by Sam Day of Fryeburg Academy (80) and Nick Needham of Bangor’s John Bapst High School (81).
In the girls individual competition, Leavitt High of Turner’s Jade Haylock won it for the fourth straight year. She shot a 77. Lawrence of Fairfield’s Elizabeth Holden shot an 84 and Leavitt’s Sophie Simard had a 95.
Scarborough won the Class A team title for the first time since 2017 with a 317, six strokes better than Cheverus of Portland. Thornton Academy of Saco was third with a 324 and completing the top five were Falmouth (331) and Gorham (338).
Scarborough’s Marc Twombley, the outright winner in 2022, shared medalist honors with Greely of Cumberland Center’s Joe Hansen. Each shot a 71. Mick Madden of Cheverus and Will Farschon of Brunswick shared third at 75.
Carley Iannetta of Falmouth won the girls championship with an 82 followed by Oxford Hills of South Paris’ Alexis McCormick and Windham’s Fiona Harmon, who both shot 87, Thornton Academy’s Stella Roy (90) and Lydia Jones of Skowhegan (91).
