LINCOLN – Ali Prescott of Fort Kent had just handed in her scorecard at the Penobscot Valley Conference golf championships. Before anyone could ask about her score, she said, “better talk to her,” pointing to Jenna Hallett of Presque Isle, standing a few feet away.

Prescott, the two-time defending schoolgirl state champion, shot an 89. Hallett had an 87.

“Nine three-putts. It didn’t get me in a good mood but I qualified (for the state meet next Saturday),” said Prescott. Her score was good enough to earn a 5-hour trip to Vassalboro to defend her individual schoolgirl title.

Hallett will need about four hours to get there, and she’s hoping her second appearance goes a little better.

“Last year was rough. I learned I have to use my head more, not make so risky decisions,” she said.

When Prescott and Hallett get to Vassalboro, they will find at least one new competitor — Alice Hwang of Bangor. At the Kennebec Valley Athletic Conference championships, Hwang fired an 86 while playing from the boys’ tees.

“She’s awesome,” said Rob Jarvis, the Bangor coach and Bangor Municipal pro. “I really think she’ll be one of the competitors for the title. She’s very comfortable playing tournament golf.”

This is the first time Hwang has played on the school team, and she’s the only girl on an 18-member squad. Hallett is the only girl on the 12-member Presque Isle team, and Prescott is the lone girl on the seven-player Fort Kent team.

Jarvis has coached Bangor golf for 12 years. Hwang is the first girl he’s had on his team.

“I see a lot of women in their 20s and 30s playing golf, but I’m not sure why there are not more playing in the high school ranks,” Jarvis said.

He hopes the First Tee program that introduces golf to youngsters will encourage more girls to try the sport. Prescott and Hallett agree that more girls playing is a good thing.

“We need more girls to play in order to get better,” said Prescott, “and they need to see other girls playing in order to get interested.” 

AFTER A 29-DAY potato harvest break, the Easton boys finally will get to play another soccer game on Tuesday.

The Bears have dropped from second to ninth in the Eastern Class D Heal points. 

THE HERMON football program is just 2 years old, but it now has the leading rusher in Eastern Class C in sophomore David Shepardson. He went over 1,000 yards Friday night in a victory against Stearns.