CLICK HERE to read original article – written by Portland Press Herald Staff Writer Mike Lowe
That Michael Caron is a pretty good college golfer shouldn't be surprising. After all, the Saint Joseph's College sophomore won Maine's high school Class A individual title in his senior year at Gorham High.
It's perhaps the level of his success this fall that is surprising – even to Caron.
Michael Caron's game is marked by consistency, and he shot a 70 last week at the UNE Invitational.
For five consecutive weeks, Caron has been selected as golfer of the week in the Great Northeast Athletic Conference. He was also named the ECAC Division III co-golfer of the month for September, sharing the award with another Mainer, Jamie Jackson of Belfast, a junior at RPI.
In seven events this fall, Caron has had four medalist honors, finishing no lower than seventh. As a freshman, Caron took medalist honors twice.
"To be honest, this is a little surprising," said the 19-year-old Caron, who is majoring in sports marketing. "I figured I had one of the best (seasons) I could have had my freshman year. I was just hoping to play as well as I did last year.
"I don't know … my swing's just good. And I've been playing a lot better all summer."
Caron played throughout the summer in various tournaments in Maine. Jamie Smyth, the Monks coach, said the biggest difference this year is Caron's consistency.
"Last year he'd throw in a round that wouldn't be his typical round, an 83 or an 85," Smyth said. "This year it's just one great round after another. That to me has been the most impressive thing this year. Golf is hard enough to play the one time you go out."
Caron shot a 70 in the University of New England Invitational at the Cape Arundel Golf Club in Kennebunkport last week. The 70 was the lowest 18-hole score of his career and the best by a St. Joe's golfer since 2007.
His other medalist honors came at the UMaine-Farmington Invitational (75) at Sunday River Golf Club, the Thomas College Classic (71) at Waterville Country Club and the John Queenan Memorial (72) at St. Joe's home course, Point Sebago Golf Resort. He is averaging 73.6 strokes per round.
Caron said his "course management" skills have improved. But mostly, he added, "I'm just going out there and having fun and not thinking about where I'm going to place or how I'm doing score-wise. That's helping."
He added that he's just a smarter golfer than he was in the past. "Instead of just trying to be aggressive all the time, like last year, you've got to know when to take what's in front of you."
Caron is a captain for the Monks and Smyth said he takes that role seriously.
"Certainly all the guys look up to him and look for a great round," he said. "That's a lot of pressure to put on him. But he's been more than up to the task. And he's delivered every time we go out."
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Saint Joseph's College is Maine's only Catholic liberal arts college, providing a supportive, personalized and career-focused education for more than 100 years. From its 430-acre campus on the shores of Sebago Lake, the College offers more than 40 undergraduate programs to a population of approximately 1,000 students. Saint Joseph's College Online provides certificates, undergraduate and advanced degrees for working adults through an online learning program. For more, visit www.sjcme.edu.
