Farrell Brings Leadership to Links

For East Haven senior golfer Chris Farrell, it has been a long drive on the links since his first tee shot three years ago with the Yellowjackets, yet it was actually a swing from a decade of a different athletic calling that got Chris into golf.

"I bought my first club set my freshman year and loved the game ever since," said Chris, a longtime baseball player. "As far as my transition from baseball to golf, it did take some time. Because of my baseball swing, I was slicing the golf ball at first, yet I would say after about a year, it finally got better."

While he has also shown his Yellowjacket pride for two years on the gridiron, Chris has been very fortunate to be a part of an East Haven golf club which won consecutive SCC Oronoque Division crowns in his first two years with the team.

"Winning the first Oronoque division title my sophomore year was a big highlight for me and the team," says Chris. "It was special because we had to win a match on the road at Pine Orchard versus a rival in Branford to take the division."

Chris's mentor and coach, Dave Augustine, has also seen great development in the senior's golf game.

"Chris is the lone senior and is captain of the team," says Augustine. "Chris got some playing time last year, but was not a starter. He worked very hard on his game over the summer and improved greatly and his game is very good and is the leader of this team. The younger players look up to him and his leadership qualities are obvious. Having no assistant coach, he has become my 'go-to guy' and has never let me down. Chris and I discuss issues that involve the team and his insight and input are very valuable to me."

That feeling is mutual as Chris sees his constantly positive coach as one of the major motivators in his athletic career. He also points to his parents, who have been as rock solid to him as one of his fairway drives to the green.

"Coach Augustine has been a big reason for my success," Chris says. "Even if I have an off day, he never lets me get down. He is always positive with me and takes the bright spots of my game. My parents have also been great; they are always supporting me in everything I do and I certainly owe them a lot."

As Chris winds down his stint as a Yellowjacket and approaches the onset of a communications degree at the University of Bridgeport in the fall, he is still focused on having his team finish the spring season strong.

"We have a big match coming up versus Branford," says Chris. "Obviously, they are a big rival for us and we were locked in a close race with them last year and at this point in the season, we just want to win matches. I learned a lot about teamwork in life during my time here; if you help people out, they will help you, as well. I also learned a lot about respect. You must respect everyone in life. You will have people you like and you don't like in life; you just have to respect them all, like opponents in a match."