PORTLAND, Maine – The University of Southern Maine golf team began the 2023 season on high note on Friday afternoon thanks to a tri-match victory over Saint Joseph's College of Maine and UMaine Farmington at Riverside Golf Course.  The event was the first for the Huskies under the direction of first-year head coach Brian Bickford '87.
 
The Huskies shot 311 (+23) as a team and finished five strokes ahead of Saint Joseph's (316 +28) while UMaine Farmington carded a 344 (+56).  Drew Mathieu of Saint Joseph's recorded the lowest score at one-over par (73) followed by Southern Maine freshman Jackson Horne (Woodsville, NH) who shot two-over par (74) in his collegiate debut.
 
Senior Zach Ellsworth (Saranac Lake, N.Y./Northwood School) had the second-lowest score for the Huskies with a 78 (+6) and ranked south overall in the field of 19 golfers.  Ellsworth's highlight of the event was an eight-hole stretch where he shot two-under par.  Sophomore Finnegan Sharpe (Durham, Maine/Freeport) tied for sixth in his debut as a Husky with a score of 79 (+7).  Junior Owen Doyle (Gardiner, Maine) finished seventh with a score of 80 (+8). Sophomore Sam Farr (Gorham, Maine) rounded out the five-man lineup for the Huskies and placed 13th with a score of 87 (+15).
 
Southern Maine had two golfers compete as individuals in junior Colin DeWitt (Newington, Conn.) and senior Jett Healy (Stratham, N.H./Exeter).  Healy had the best score among non-scoring competitors and tied for eighth at 81 (+9).  DeWitt carded a 93 (+21) to place 16th.
 
The Huskies will return to action on Wednesday when they travel to the John Queenan Memorial Invitational hosted by Saint Joseph's at Point Sebago Golf Course in Casco, Maine.