8
The Times Argus Fall Sports Guide 2018
Melville, Richards: Golfers of the Year
By JAMES BIGGAM
S
ingling out the Times Argus
Golfer of the Year usually
involves a simple glance at the
numbers.
But for the second straight fall it
was impossible to separate U-32’s
Bryson Richards and Harwood’s
Aidan Melville.
The seniors share the top honor
again after blazing different paths to-
ward similar success. Melville caught
up with Richards last season and sur-
passed him for much of 2018, helping
the Highlanders defend their Division
II championship. Richards edged Mel-
ville by two shots at sectionals and
was the defi nition of consistency all
four years, fi ring rounds in the 60s or
70s for every 18-hole tournament.
“Aidan and Bryson are the top
high school golfers in Central
Vermont, unless you go back to
(2006 Spaulding graduate) Eric
Lajeunesse,” Harwood coach Brian
McCarthy said. “But for Division II,
they’re the best. And Aidan is the
best golfer Harwood has ever had —
bar none. His average was probably
3-under for the year, if not better.
And it was classic watching him and
Bryson compete for four years.
“Except for the shirts, you’d never
know they were playing against
each other. They’re out there playing
a game they love and they’re just
doing the best they can. As an adult
coach who tries to get this game to
everybody, that’s gold. That’s what I
live for.”
During the fi rst day of the season,
Melville set a tournament record with
a 6-under 66 at the North Country
Invitational. Richards settled for a 67
after his birdie putt on the fi nal hole
barely missed the mark. Melville shot
a 33 at the Country Club of Vermont
and was medalist again on Sept. 12,
fi ring a 30 to beat Richards by four
shots at Stowe Country Club.
Richards fi nished with a 33 at
15th-place fi nish this summer at the
Ryder Brook on Sept. 20, and a week
Vermont Amateur. Melville aced the
later Melville shot a 34 at the same
test all fall and Harwood emerged as a
course. Richards claimed medal-
title favorite again behind solid depth
ist honors during sectionals with a
from Nate Honeywell, Jon Honey-
1-under 71 at Rutland Country Club,
well, Liam Guyette and Jacob Green.
where Melville shot a 73. A week
Rice surprised Melville and his
later Melville had the upper-hand,
teammates at sectionals, securing
pacing Harwood with a 2-under 70
a 19-shot victory. But a week later
during the state championships at the
the Highlanders shaved 37 strokes
Country Club of Vermont. A 74 by
off their qualifying score to beat the
Richards gave both golfers a ticket to
Green Knights by 10 shots at states.
the New England
“I don’t think
Championships
we
were there
“Except for the shirts, you’d
next spring, and it
mentally com-
never know they were playing pared to Rice (at
also wrapped up a
stretch of playing
sectionals). It was
against each other. They’re
non-stop golf for
kind of like, ‘All
out there playing a game they we have to do now
seven months.
“Sometimes you
is not get 7s or 8s.’
love and they’re just doing
feel like, ‘Wow,
At that point for
the best they can. As an adult sectionals all you
I need to take a
break,’” Melville
had to do was get
coach who tries to get this
said. “And I did.
top-six to make
game to everybody, that’s
Sometimes I took
it. And we knew
two-day breaks.
we were going
gold. That’s what I live for.”
But that was it. I
to get a top-six,”
really wanted to
Melville said.
Harwood coach Brian McCarthy
get right back out
Harwood’s
there.”
four-person total of 314 strokes would
Three years ago, Melville was a
have won the D-I championship by
talented freshman who carded more
four shots. Nate Honeywell (73), Jon
bogeys than pars, fi ring an 88 during
Honeywell (77) and Guyette (94)
states at Ralph Myhre. He stepped up
rounded out the Highlanders’ scoring.
with a 78 during states the following
“Nate was the only one I saw and
year at Vermont National. Known as
he gave me a thumbs-up when I was
a long-ball hitter with a delicate touch
on the sixth hole and he was on the
around the green, Melville shot a 71
seventh,” Melville said. “But that
during the 2017 state championships
was it and I didn’t know anything.
at Green Mountain National. He led
After Nate and Jon fi nally came in,
the Highlanders to their fi rst title
I was so psyched — it was really
since 2012, and their team total of
cool to see. And especially Nate: He
334 was 42 shots better than run-
hadn’t broken 90 in a state champi-
ner-up Lake Region. With the effort,
onship. And to shoot as low as he did
Melville surpassed HU graduates
was awesome.”
Brooks Curran and Jarek Hammerl to
Richards is a basketball standout
become the No. 3 golfer in program
in the winter but he literally grew up
history behind Stevie Maynard and
with a golf club in his hands. He shot
Paul Weston.
a 42 as a 5-year-old and a 39 the fol-
This season he skyrocketed to the
lowing year. He hit a milestone with
top, carrying the momentum from a
an even-par round of 35 as a 7-year-
old and opened his high school career
with a 5-under 30 at the Country Club
of Barre.
Richards competed as an individual
his freshman year and delivered a 76
during states. The Solons made a title
run his sophomore season, fi nishing
four strokes behind Rice after he fi red
a 69. Last season golf moved from
a spring to a fall sport and Richards
made the adjustment seamlessly,
recording a 75 at states.
“I’ve had great teammates and a
great coach. It’s crazy that it’s over
and it kind of fl ew by. But it was a
good career. And we’ve had a good
team — it was just a couple shots here
and there that could have helped us.
We’ve been close and I’ve been proud
to be part of it,” Richards said.
This year Richards was equal parts
player and coach, especially with his
younger brother Riley on the squad.
He also helped twin brothers Jake and
Josh Ehret elevate their games.
“This year I spent a lot of time with
Jake and Josh, as well as my brother
— just working with their skills. And
in practice I give the beginners advice
and try to keep it fun for them so they
keep playing their next two or three
years,” Richards said. “It’s just like
basketball: When a kid’s struggling,
you have to be there to pick him up.”
Richards excelled recently at the
Vermont Amateur Championship,
fi nishing third in 2017 and 11th this
year. Next fall he plans to compete
for the University of Rhode Island,
which earned four tournament vic-
tories in 2016-17.
“It’s not in my backyard, but it’s
close enough where if I want to
come home on a weekend I can do
that,” Richards said. “And we travel
to South Carolina and Florida over
winter break, so we’re playing all
year-round. There’s a spring and
fall season and they’re very compet-
itive as far as Division I athletics.
It’s serious.”