Vassalboro — Veteran Oceanside golf coach Keenan Flanagan has said that with a bundle of talented youngsters coming up through the ranks, the future of Mariner links play could be at a state championship-caliber level over the next few years.

One can see why Flanagan, the PGA Professional at the Rockland Golf Club, would feel that way with the standout play of Oceanside this fall.

In a first step, the relatively young Mariners had a chance to contend for a Kennebec Vallley Athletic Conference Class A title on Monday, Sept. 24 as they participated in the league's divisional round playoff matches.

Alas, Oceanside lost to host Cony 6.5 to 2.5 in a competitive match on the Arrowhead Course at the Natanis Golf Club. The Rams finished with a four-golfer, nine-hole stroke total of 166 to the Mariners' 168. Thus, for shooting two strokes lower, Cony earned three valuable points. The Rams won three individual matches and Oceanside two, and the teams split the sixth match.

Cony improved to 9-2 overall and Oceanside dropped to 7-4.

Mariner freshman Nick Mazurek was the medalist as he shot 38 for nine holes.

The individual results, with Mariners listed first, were: Mazurek (38) beat Zach Gagne (39), 2-up; Reilly Flanagan (42) beat Ben Leet (41), 1-up; Jordan Carter (41) tied Thomas Foster (40); Zeke Hamlin (47) lost to Tyler Leet (45), 2-down; Zach Bernard (57) lost to Alex Peachey (46), 3-2; and Anthony Dayboch (56) lost to Casey Bancroft (46, 4-2.

There were other KVAC Class A playoff matches Sept. 24.

In the Central Division, No. 2 Oceanside played at No. 1 Cony of Augusta, while in the South Division, No. 2 Brunswick played at No. 1 Oxford Hills of South Paris and in the North Division, No. 2 Lawrence of Fairfield played at No. 1 Bangor.

Winners of those matches advance to the KVAC Class A golf shootout on Wednesday, Sept. 26 at 2 p.m. at the Rockland Golf Club.

During regular-season matches, Oceanside split with Cony, winning 5.5 to 3.5 and losing 8-1.

In the Central Division, Cony finished 8-2, Oceanside 7-3, Messalonskee of Oakland and Erskine Academy of South China both 6-4, Gardiner 3-7 and Mount Blue of Farmington 0-10.

In the North Division, Bangor finished 10-0, Lawrence 7-3, Skowhegan and Hampden Academy both 5-5, Brewer 3-7 and Nokomis of Newport 0-10.

In the South Division, Oxford Hills finished 9-1, Brunswick 8-2, Edward Little of Auburn 6-4, Lewiston 5-5, Mount Ararat of Topsham 2-8 and Morse of Bath 0-10.

Courier Publications sports staff can be reached by phone at 207-594-4401 or by email at sports@courierpublicationsllc.com.