Posted Jun. 5, 2014
WELLESLEY
It was fitting that Katharine Fortin’s final match took place at Glen Ellen Country Club.
While she had never played at the 18-hole course in Millis with her Wellesley High teammates before Tuesday, Fortin is no stranger to the club known locally as “The Glen”.
“I love that course,” said Fortin. “I practice there a lot, so I enjoy the place.”
Fortin was thrilled when learned that the state championship would be played at Glen Ellen. Even though she hadn’t logged many rounds on the course itself, she was familiar with the staff and the environment and it allowed her friends and family to catch her in action.
“It was a place that I was comfortable at,” she said, “even if the course beat me [on Tuesday].”
Fortin and the Wellesley girls golf team wrapped up the season with a third-place finish at the MIAA State Championship match, scoring 375 points, while Notre Dame of Hingham (363 points) reclaimed the state title one year after the Raiders snapped its streak of 11 consecutive championships last spring.
Fortin placed seventh individually in the championship match, shooting a 12-over 84.
“I did alright,” she said. “It wasn’t what I was looking for, and I had a lot of trouble putting. But I still had fun.
“It was hot, a little humid, and I think we were all dehydrated after. But I think it was such a nice day that it was hard not to enjoy at least being out there and playing on a really nice course.”
While the ultimate goal was to repeat as state champions, it just wasn’t in the cards on Tuesday.
“We didn’t all play our best that we were capable of, but [we played] with a team effort anyway,” said Fortin. “And we did come in third, so that was good.”
Fortin didn’t feel it was anyone’s fault, just that the team as a whole didn’t have its best performance.
“At the end of the round, we all knew that we could have picked up some strokes here and there, but no one was to blame,” Fortin said. “It was just someone else’s day today, and I think that we were OK with that. … It was still a great way to end a really nice season and four years for the seniors who played.”
Fortin has come a long way in the last four years. At first, she lacked confidence in her game. But this year she finally found her comfort zone.
“From freshman year to senior year, I’ve definitely gained a lot of confidence and I’m more relaxed on the course this year than I’ve ever felt,” she said. “I realized that when I went out for my first couple matches this season, that I just felt a lot more comfortable, on the first tee and just getting my ball out on the fairway, swinging away, than I had for any other year.”
This was reposted with the permission of The Wellesley Townsman.
