With the start of the high school golf season tentatively slated to open Sept. 8, the Maine State Golf Association is providing high school golfers an opportunity to participate in a series of golf events this month ahead of the high school golf season.

“Traditionally, junior golf stops when the hands off period ends which is usually around August 15th in a normal year,” the MSGA said in a news release. “But 2020 is anything but normal.” 

The MSGA, thus, is offering opportunities to play and keep the current momentum in junior golf throughout the entire state by creating places high school golfers can play in preparation for Sept. 8, and thus are filling the so-called gap between windows of play. 

To keep interest, the MSGA will offer player points per event. 10 points for first, eight points for second, six points for third, four points for fourth, two points for fifth and one point for playing. Most points overall at the end of the season will earn MSGA vouchers which you can use in the pro shop. First place is $100, second place is $75, third place is $50, fourth place is $25, and fifth place is $10. Players will receive MSGA vouchers at the end of the season.

Most events are individual stroke play events, though there will be one club team championship event Aug. 31 featuring four players from the same golf club (not necessarily the same high school though). The two best gross scores per hole over 18 holes will comprise the club team score.

The first event was held Aug. 12 at the Gorham Country Club; no Midcoast players participated in that event.

The second event was Aug. 19 with four players participating at the Hidden Meadows Golf Course in Old Town including Thomas Parker of Northport. Results from the event were not available. 

The third event was Aug. 22 at the Riverside Golf Course in Portland. Austin Chilles of Rockland finished second (+5, 77). 

The fourth event was Aug. 23 at the Sunday River Golf Club in Newry. Thomas Parker of Northport finished third (+10, 82), Austin Chilles of Rockland finished tied for fifth (+13, 85), James Ritter of Searsmont finished tied for 12th (+16, 88) and Tommy Walker of Belfast finished tied for 12th (+16, 88). 

Upcoming individual events will be held in Whitefield (Aug. 26) and Newry (Aug. 30)