Seniors Carry GHS Golf

Last week, Glastonbury High School boys golf team won a pair of home matches at Glastonbury Hills Country Club. The victories extend the Guardians’ undefeated divisional record to 11-0 and improved the team’s overall record to 16-1.

It’s been both a fruitful and unique year for GHS head coach Tom Zelek, who has five quality seniors playing pivotal roles on and off the links.

Senior captain Gavin Kvadus has again been the leader in the clubhouse after finishing tied as the runner-up at the Central Connecticut Conference (CCC) Championships and third overall at the CIAC State Championships last fall.  

“The biggest thing is building off of what we did last year,” Kvadus said of the team’s goals coming into this season. “We have the same core of guys this year and we just had to build off that and focus on the points where we weren’t at our best last year.”

Behind Kvadus are four solid Class of 2024 golfers in Zachary Durant, Stephen Crouse, Michael Litke, and Dylan Goode – each capable of finishing atop the leaderboard at any given meet. 

“They are all solid players that rarely make big mistakes,” Zelek said of his seniors. “They are all great kids.”

In a win over Newington (163-169) last Tuesday, Durant led the way by shooting a 39, recording seven pars and only needed 16 putts to complete his round.

Durant said close meets against a competitive conference opponent like Newington are helpful with the end-of-the-season tournaments right around the corner.    

“It challenges us,” stated Durant. “We always want to come out and play our best. It pushes us; it’s good practice going into states.”

Crouse shot a 40, hitting six greens in regulation and six of the seven fairways to complete his round.

“Everyone works together, we get along well,” Crouse said of the well-rounded team. “It makes the team better. Every day we come out and compete and try to make each other better.”

Litke, who shot a 41, added that it’s a healthy competition between the seniors during practice and play, adding, “We are all friends. We all have reasons to want to beat each other, so that probably helps, but none of us take it super serious. We all just want to do well,”

Goode is the younger brother of Connor Goode, a 2023 GHS graduate in his sophomore season at the University of Connecticut where he was recently named the Big East Co-Golfer of the Week after capturing an individual title at the UConn Invitational.

Dylan said watching his brother succeed at GHS and now at UConn had helped him as a golfer, adding his time at the high school has gone by fast. 

“I’m getting a little nostalgic,” he stated. “Next year I won’t be playing here, so you just have to take in the moment.”

The day following the Newington victory, Glastonbury again defended their home course, posting a (160) to beat both Berlin (172) and Wethersfield (185). 

Kvadus hit six greens, recording a birdie to go along with six pars to fire a round of (+2) 38. Junior standout Derek Thomas also posted a 38.

Zelek said that “nobody works harder at his game” than Thomas and added that freshman Chase Robustelli, along with the handful of seniors, have created a force of seven solid golfers that have “risen to the occasion” this fall. 

Along with winning 16 of 17 regular season meets, the Guardians were also victorious in the Avon Invitational in early-October taking home the team title at the 18-hole tournament in Simsbury. 

Next up is the Central Connecticut Conference (CCC) tournament today (Thursday, Oct. 19). A year ago the Guardians finished fifth overall at the conference finals. 

The season will wrap up with the CIAC Division I Fall Championship on Tuesday, Oct. 24 at Stanley Golf Course, teeing off at 8:30 a.m. 

​“The biggest thing is going out and trying to win states –– that’s the goal every year,” said Kvadus. “It’s our last year and we just want to go out and do our best.”