Notre Dame Academy Girls Golf Team Captures Tenth Straight State Title

The Girls golf team captured their tenth straight MIAA State Title crown at the Green Harbor Golf Club last Wednesday.

Notre Dame Head Coach Dave Gianferante said, “All you had to do is walk in and you feel the electricity,” as the Cougars took the 36-stroke victory over runner-up Westborough.

Four Notre Dame golfers shot for a combined total of 317, which shattered their own previous tournament record of 332 set in 2006.

“A lot of people deserve a lot of credit,” said Gianferante as he credited everyone from players and parents to the administration and athletic department that has contributed to the family atmosphere that surrounds this team.

Six golfers competed the par-71 course including: Lauren Flynn (74), Aimee Dubois (75), Emily LaFond (82), Alyssa Barrett (86), Jill Tripp (87), and Sydney Ridder (92).

Fourteen teams were represented at Green Harbor. Twenty percent of which qualified to attend the individuals tournament held on June 7, including each of the six golfers.

“The secret with us is that the golf team at means something to the girls,” said Gianferante.

According to the head coach, many teams have a lifespan of only three to five years until they hit a dry spell. To maintain their prestigious reputation over the course of ten years, travels to the tournament with one or two freshman in hopes they will be able to develop in the future.

One week prior to the MIAA Tournament this season the team’s strict training regimen of two-and-a-half to three hour practices was put on an uncharacteristic hold.

Gianferante told his team, “You all did your homework, you worked hard, now enjoy the journey.”

The team was given two days off followed by a modified practice and a trip to Dairy Queen. After playing poorly, he felt it best to clear their minds and relieve some of the pressure surrounding each performance.

This golf team carries their intense demands off the pitch as well with a team collective grade-point-average of 3.8.

“Their effort is second to none,” said Gianferante.

MIAA GIRLS STATE TEAM CHAMPIONSHIP
GREEN HARBOR GC - JUNE 1, 2011

RANK SCHOOL SCORE
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1 NOTRE DAME (H) 317
2 WESTBOROUGH 353
3 URSULINE 358
4 DUXBURY 360
5 FALMOUTH 371
6 WACHUSETT 375
7 BARNSTABLE 375
8 NOTRE DAME (W) 380
9 FONTBONNE 386
10 BROOKLINE 387
11 HINGHAM 391
12 QUABBIN 402
13 SAUGUS 408
14 AUBURN 411

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NOTRE DAME  SCORING RESULTS
LAUREN FLYNN: 74
AIMEE DUBOIS: 75
EMILY LAFOND: 82
JILL TRIPP: 87
ALYSSA BARRETT: 86
SYDNEY RIDDER: 92

HINGHAM HIGH SCHOOL SCORING RESULTS:
ASHLEY HARKINS:  87
SARAH CENTANNI:  107
MACKENZIE MILLERD:  99
AMY CONTI:  99
TORI MESSINA:  106