Brewer, Lincoln Academy set the pace at KVAC golf qualifier
KVAC golf qualifier at Natanis sees Bangor’s Jacoby Harvey finish second, teams lock in state spots
VASSALBORO, Maine – After a rain‑shrouded first‑day championship, the Kennebec Valley Athletic Conference (KVAC) held its golf qualifier on Tuesday at the Tomahawk course on Natanis Golf Course. The event saw 33 golfers earn spots in the upcoming state championships and four Class A and four Class B teams secure berths for Friday and Saturday’s finals.
Bangor’s Jacoby Harvey, who had already led his Rams to the KVAC Class A title a day earlier, finished the qualifier tied for second‑best in the division. He posted a 79 in windy conditions, a score he said “just had to be the most mental…take one shot at a time.” Harvey tied with Brewer’s Liam Greenlaw, while Greyson Dooley of Messalonskee topped the leaderboard.
“Things on the back (nine) didn’t go as planned, but at the end of the day, 79, can’t be complaining,” Harvey said, reflecting on a front‑nine minus‑one that helped him keep the pressure at bay.
The team qualifiers mirrored the individual results. Bangor, Brewer, Messalonskee, and Camden Hills all earned spots in the Class A state championship, while Lincoln Academy, Leavitt, Belfast, and Nokomis secured berths in Class B. Lincoln Academy, which won the Class B title on Oct. 1, will look to repeat its success in Friday’s final.
Lincoln coach Todd Brackett praised his squad’s depth. “They’re a great bunch of young athletes and they’re a joy to coach,” he told reporters. “My No. 3 guy isn’t here—he’s sick—so my No. 7 stepped up and shot 90, which we used as part of the team score today. That depth is an advantage.”
In Class B, James Brisson of Leavitt tied with Lincoln’s Colin Mitchell for the lowest round, shooting an 80. Mitchell described his play as “keeping it low under the wind…not trying to be too greedy.” Brisson’s 80 rounded out a 358 score for his team, which also included Belfast’s 362 and Nokomis’s 364.
Brackett reflected on the mindset his players brought to the field. “I told them we were just treating it like a practice round, going out to play the course, not the other teams,” he said. “They were still eager to qualify individually, so I didn’t think having already qualified would ease their nerves.”
The state championships will take place on the same Tomahawk course: Class A Friday, Class B Saturday. Individual qualifiers include 33 golfers, from Skowhegan’s Ari Brown to Waterville‑Winslow’s Jack Flaherty. Teams from across the state—Rams, Witches, Eagles, Windjammers, Rams, Tigers, Broncos, Bulldogs, Hornets, Eagles, Panthers, Warriors, Vikings, and Hawks—will compete for the ultimate title.
With the qualifiers complete, the focus shifts to Friday’s Class A finals and Saturday’s Class B showdown, where the top golfers and teams from the region will battle for Maine state glory.
