Newtown High School’s girls’ golf team — for the fifth time in the last ten years, and first time since 2021 — is on top of the South-West Conference. The Nighthawks had a match low score of 398 during the May 28 SWC Championship match, at Shelton’s Brownson Country Club. The Nighthawks finished 22 strokes ahead of runner-up Masuk of Monroe (420).

The Nighthawks were led by Maddie Marcisz who carded a 95 and Maddy Watson with a 96, representing the fourth and fifth best scores in the match. Rounding out Newtown’s totals were Riley Ragan with a 103, and Amanda Faircloth with a 104. Lucia St Lorenzo shot a 107.

The top for scorers total each team’s result. Stratford’s Lauren Ogrodowicz was the medalist with a score of 81.

Teams play nine holes in matches throughout the season but battle the full 18 holes in the championship. This requires a different sort of mental toughness to that which is required during the regular season — an ability to shake off some not-too-good scores on some holes and stay focused for twice as long as usual.

“I was really happy with them,” Newtown Coach Jeremy O’Connell said. “They played well, but they also had some trouble they had to overcome on occasion and they were able to do so.”

The Nighthawks take on the best of the best in Connecticut in the Division I State Championship, set for Monday, June 3, at Tashua Knolls Golf Course in Trumbull.

Newtown had a tremendous regular season, losing in conference play only to Weston by four strokes and handing Masuk of Monroe its only two defeats of the campaign.

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