Ellington senior has spent most of her career playing golf with the boys

May 26—SOUTH WINDSOR — When Alex Fox steps up to the boys tee box for the Ellington High boys golf team, she can sometimes feel the opposition's perception of her change.

"I'm pretty sure they're all thinking once I get up to the tee 'Oh great, a girl,'" Fox said.

But with one swing of her driver, perceptions go out the window.

"I hit my first drive, and I hit just as far as them, if not farther," Fox said. "And then they're like 'OK, she can play.'"

Fox has proven herself throughout her senior season. She is the top golfer in the CIAC's individual female rankings and has been a consistent scorer for the unbeaten Knights all year.

"Every match, she offers a score that we're going to use, and she does so from the boys tees on a team of a bunch of boys," Ellington coach Michael Stiles said.

Fox took up golf when she was 8 years old when her dad signed her up for group lessons at the old Ellington Golf Center.

"No one else had signed up, so it turned into private lessons," she said. "I took to it really well and I just loved swinging the club and I've just been golfing ever since."

Ellington High doesn't have a girls team, so Fox has played with the boys squad for three seasons. The 2020 season was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

She's not the first female that Stiles has had during his 17 years with the team, but she's arguably the most decorated.

Fox was named to both the all-state and all-New England teams her first two years, and is in line for both honors again this season.

"Not to take anything away from any golfer, but Alex is just not a kid you see come through your program but once," Stiles added.

As a freshman, Fox finished eighth in the girls state championship, shooting a 7-over par 79. The following year, she helped the Knights win the NCCC championship.

When the state tournaments rolled around, Fox elected to skip the girls championship in order to play with her teammates in the Division III boys tournament. Ellington finished fifth, and Fox was second on the team with a 13-over 85.

Fox feels that the experience she's gained playing with her male teammates has been invaluable to her career.

"I think having to play from the farther tees has just helped me want to improve my game and improve my distances so I can keep up with them pretty good," Fox said. "I drive about the same as them. It's just helped me get better at my game altogether."

Fox feels her senior season got off to a bit of a "rocky" start, but she's back in form and contributing once again.

"It's just awesome," she said. "I love all my teammates, they're so nice, so respectful. We're all really good golfers, we have a good team this year. We just have a great team and I'm lucky to be on it."

The Knights enter postseason play a perfect 15-0. Fox is confident that the team will win the NCCC championship on June 2 at Blackledge Country Club, and that they have a good shot at a state title as well.

As far as her decision on which state tournament she'll participate in this year, Fox said she plans on playing with her teammates in the Division III boys championship on June 7 at Stanley Golf Course.

"Golf is such an individual sport," she said. "I play a lot of tournaments by myself in the summer. If I could help this team win, I'm going to help the team win because I just love playing with the boys. I love all of them. They're so nice, and I just want to help them win, want to help the team win."

Fox's performance this season has also already qualified her for the State Open June 12 at the Black Hall Club.

Next year, Fox will take her talents to Methodist University in Fayetteville, North Carolina. She committed to the Monarchs' women's golf team in February, and hopes to sign her Letter of Intent soon.

"I just love the environment down in North Carolina," Fox said on why she chose the school. "They have a great program for what I want to do. Great team down there for golf, and I'm just excited to be down there."

The Monarchs won the 2021 Division III national championship on May 14, the 14th national title in program history.

Fox plans on majoring in professional golf management with a concentration in business administration. The degree will grant her PGA certification.

"I could be a pro at a course, be a swing coach," she added. "I could work at Titleist, TaylorMade, all that. Or I could do tournament operations, which I'm really looking to do. So, run tournament circuits around for junior golfers, or adults."

Fox will report to the school in mid-August. Until then, she is focused on leading Ellington to its first state title since 2004. The Knights also won the Division III crown in 1997.

"My expectations are her expectations," Stiles said. "She puts pressure on herself to do well, but it's a healthy amount of pressure. She's going to do great."

Ellington 165, South Windsor 194

Ellington: Bradley Sawka, 35; Alex Fox, 41; Nate Miller, 42; Cam Cole, 47; Aidan Stimac, 48.

South Windsor: Zain Gray, 44; Josh Brozowski, 47; Quillan Reilly, 48; Mike Smith, 55; Arsalan Zaki, 58.

Match played at Topstone Golf Course in South Windsor (par 36).

Somers 194, Canton 195

Somers: Vinnie Mazza, 46; Nick Manning, 48; Dylan Kukulka, 52; Gabe Kukulka, 51; Mason Colby, 49.

Canton: Matt Shuman, 42; Andrew McAllister, 51; Jonah Hurley, 47; Nick Delbone, 62; Jack McCarthy, 55.

Match played at Grassmere Country Club in Enfield (par 35).

Bolton 176, Windsor Locks 249

Windsor Locks: Ashley Hoffman 73; Nandini Padigi 46; Louis Vasquez 69; Josh Meller 61.

Bolton: Andy Fiano 42; Jason Dean 45; Noah Fleming 46; Aidan Brown 55; Adian Craft 43.

Match played at Tallwood Country Club (par 35).

Granby 164, Coventry 168

Granby: Sean Dowd 35; Russell Brown 41; Mark McWhirter 46; Aiden Goodrow 42; Andrew Cefole 52; Jack Gianinoto 51.

Coventry: Kyle Corrigan 37; Steven Hassett 42; Dylan Toombs 46; Brendan Power 46; Alex Simko 43; Dillon Forte 49.

Match played at Skungamaug Golf Club (par 35).

EO Smith 170, East Catholic 177

E.O. Smith: John Bray 41; Jiwang Lee 44; Eliot Ryan 49; Thomas Boardman 41; Damian Till 44.

East Catholic: Christian Luca 52; Nate DiSalvatore 47; Ben Eskin 42; Adam Eskin 47; Shane Luca 41.

Match played at Windham Golf Club (par 35).

Girls

East Catholic 211, South Windsor 249

South Windsor: Mikayla Evans 58; Alexa Wolf 67; Katie Dunn 67; Abby Bergstrom 67; Hailey Testa 70.

East Catholic: Olivia Agnelli 50. Medalist Kendra Obrycki 51 Katie Batman 55 Ashley Maningas 55 Sydney Ledoux 55

Match played at Minnechaug Golf Course (par 35).

Note: East Catholic clinched its first Division II championship berth with the win.

For coverage of the Connecticut Sun and professional women's basketball, Hartford Athletic pro soccer team, as well as area high school and local youth sports, follow Adam Betz on Twitter: @AdBetz1, Facebook: Adam Betz — Sports Writer, and Instagram: @AdBetzJI.