The landscape is changing in terms of Cape Ann League golf. The old ?haves? have not beaten the ?have nots? as they were regularly expected to in past years.
For example, it?s been a long, lonely time (mid-2000s) since Ipswich?s golfers last defeated Masco. Between those times and last Wednesday, Sept. 11, the Chieftains stood tall as 2011 state champions.
?Masco?s not as strong as they have been in the past. That said, they did go on to defeat Manchester Essex after losing to us,? said Tigers co-coach Steve Lamson. He?s speaking of Ipswich?s 137-120 win over Masconomet.
?We were very pleased. It means we?re making progress,? Lamson added. ?We didn?t play our best, there or at Pentucket the next day, but we still won the matches. It gives us hope that, if we continue to improve, we can finish with a winning record.?
Key to the 3-1 start for the Tigers has been the play of senior co-captain Austin Rubino, averaging close to 27 points in the four matches thus far.
?He?s been consistent. He hasn?t had a bad score, and with him playing No. 1, you want that guy to put up a good score,? said Lamson. ?He?s just a good, solid all-around player. He hits the ball well off the tee, hits good, solid irons and he has a decent short game.?
?I?m starting off stronger than last year,? said Rubino, who scored 30 points against Pentucket on Sept. 12, his season high. ?I can?t complain with how I?ve played, though I still see room for improvement. I?m just going to try to do well the rest of the year.?
Knowing his long game off the tee has generally been good, Rubino made sure to take a good, long look at his short and greens game in the summer.
?I?ve traditionally hit long off the tee and had trouble on the greens. Having put in most of my work on the greens, I?m making a lot more birdies now,? Rubino said. ?Because I can make birdies, my head has been more level. I?m not letting my emotions get away from me.?
Against Masconomet, Rubino started out three-over par.
?I felt I had to make a couple birdies, and then I made them on the next two holes and from there, I was a lot more comfortable with my game,? he said.
Comfort is important in golf. So is pace. The Tigers have to generally keep up the high scoring, with many players over the 20-point mark in the quota system (which gives different point values for par, birdies, bogeys, etc.).
?We?re having the start we always thought we could have,? said Rubino. ?Golf is the kind of thing where you have to keep playing at the same pace. I?m really optimistic with where we?re headed.?
Kyle Mulkerin has also been playing very well this year, scoring 23 and 26 points against Masconomet, respectively.
?He?s played at the No. 7 spot the last couple matches,? said Lamson. ?When Kyle?s on, he can hit the ball as well as anyone on the team. If he gets into a good groove, that?ll be very good for us.?
The majority of the Ipswich High team are seniors, so Rubino knows it?s now or never to play in the state tournament.
?This is our last chance. I?m being more critical of myself, and we?re all trying to do the best we can do,? said Rubino.
Being a regular member of Ipswich Country Club, which he considers to be one of the toughest courses in the CAL, certainly helps his cause and the Tigers? cause overall.
?It?s a huge advantage,? Rubino said. ?We have the course knowledge and that helps us against teams like Masco and other powerhouse teams.?
Against Masco, the Tigers were led by John O?Brien (27), and Rubino, Mulkerin and freshman Tomas Forman (23 apiece).
Rubino led with 30 points against Pentucket, followed by Kyle Mulkerin (26), Erik Gongas (24) and Quinn O?Connor (20).
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