5 Very Successful Freshmen and their proud coach
By Amber Friend | Sports Editor
The University of Southern Maine’s very own Men’s golf team is your 2024 Little East Conference champion. The group consisted of five freshmen who proved that age is truly just a number. I was lucky enough to speak to two golfers and their coach. One of the words that comes to mind after these conversations is humble.
Despite breaking Conference and University records, the team came out modest and appreciative for the season. Taylor Farr, Alex Fournier, Alex Grant, Owen Moore, and Jaden Poirier scored a collective 597 (+29) over the two-day tournament, winning the program’s first LEC championship. Coached by University and program alumni Brian Bickford, the group now prepares for the 2025 NCAA Division III Men’s golf championship in late May, taking place in New York.
Golfers Poirier and Moore placed second and third place, earning themselves a position on the First team All LEC Honors. Teammate Fournier made his way to the second team after placing ninth, with Farr and Grant not far behind, each tying for eleventh and fourteenth place. I asked Coach Brian what he had to say to his team after such an impressive end to the season, “Congratulations. All of the hard work you all put in came together. The future is bright for the group we have”.
The coach of the 13-man team claims that “it’s rare in any sport to pull freshmen in and see them do what they were able to do.” The team started stronger than they had planned on in the championship, occurring in New Hampshire’s Keene Country Club. “As the round grew, their confidence did as well,” says the Little East Conference Coach of the year. I asked Coach Brian how achieving this title felt, and he mentioned that it wouldn’t feel so great if the team hadn’t performed so well. He mentioned that his coaching philosophy is “a football mentality in a golf body” and that he tries to help his golfers be prepared for every situation they face on the course. The coach also gave a special shout-out to the makeshift pep rally the team returned home to after winning the LEC title, saying, “It was really special.”
Golfer Owen Moore mentions his Coach’s role throughout his first year in college, “he’s always there to improve my game on and off the course.” I asked Moore how he felt holding up the 2024 LEC championship banner, “I want to thank God; he gave me the talent, and I want to use this talent to glorify God.” The freshman claims that he had the mentality of coming into his collegiate career humble and earning a spot on the team. Moore says being able to pull it off with his team was one of the best feelings he’s ever had on a golf course, “We set the bar high for the years going forward.” He claims that “if you play with your head held high, you’ve succeeded already…those who get past the bad without dwelling on it will end up the best in the long run”. He also wanted to give props to the rest of the team, pushing each other to be the best, which was the reason they came up on top in the conference.
Jaden Poirier’s name was mentioned frequently on the USM’s athletic website. The young golfer mentions that this was truly a “building year for the team… we need to live up to these new expectations”. He mentions how golf can be mentally taxing but that “anything can become achievable with hard work.” Being in such a young group of players creates a sense of leadership and accountability in each of them, says Poirier. He brings up the championship match and how it was clear the Huskies were serious after the first day. The Men’s golf team will continue to prepare for the NCAA tournament throughout the winter and early Spring. As Coach Brian says, they want to be repeat visitors to this tournament. Huge congratulations to the entire Men’s golf program for a fantastic season.