Newtown High School’s girls’ golf team has earned some notable victories late this spring, handing Masuk of Monroe its first and second losses of the spring and also defeating Weston. The Nighthawks, along with those two South-West Conference foes, are the top three in the standings as the regular season winds down.

The Nighthawks, after scoring 186 to Masuk’s 204 in a May 7 match, beat visiting Weston 207-212 at Newtown Country Club on May 9, then defeated Masuk 176-210 at Newtown Country Club on May 13.

Lucia St Lorenzo shot a 40, Riley Ragan and Maddie Marcisz both carded 43, Maddy Watson had a 50, and Amanda Faircloth 55 for the Nighthawks.

Newtown has a handful of matches to go before the May 28 SWC Championships, at Brownson Country Club in Shelton. The Hawks are hoping to compete for the top spot and certainly have as good a chance as anybody given the regular-season results which have included only one conference loss.

“I think we do,” Watson, a captain, concurred. “It’s been a good season. We’re a lot closer. We have a lot of chemistry.”

Perhaps that connection adds to the individual nature of the game and helps the Hawks compete at a high level.

“We have a chance,” said Coach Jeremy O’Connell, adding that mental toughness is a key component in golf and comes into play at another level in the championships when not only is there more on the line but the golfers have to battle for 18 holes instead of the nine they are accustomed to during the regular slate of matches.

“We’re hoping this year we can find a positive vibe and for it to be there the whole day,” said O’Connell, noting that the competitors have to overcome some mistakes and move on throughout a longer day of golf than usual.

Newtown will continue its tune-up for postseason with matches against Notre Dame-Fairfield, Stratford, Bunnell of Stratford, and Immaculate of Danbury.

Sports Editor Andy Hutchison can be reached at andyh@thebee.com.