Jacob Zaranek and Noah Devos shot an eight-under-par, 64 to win the ages 17- and 18-and-under division during the 2016 Steve Kells Memorial Junior Golf Tournament Wednesday at the Country Club of Greenfield.
This was the 29th year of the event and this year featured the largest field ever with 90 players showing up to participate.
The tournament was started by John “JJ” Kells in 1986 after his son Stephen passed away. Kells was a life-long member of the Country Club of Greenfield until passing away at the age of 74 on April 7. After his passing, the Kells family donated a significant amount of money to the tournament and the junior program at the Country Club, which fully paid for all of the entry fees, prizes and lunch for all players. Kells also helped start the Morning Crew league, which hits the course at daybreak, and also ran a tournament earlier in the year to raise money for the event.
The tournament is broken up into numerous divisions, including the 17 and 18 division, which plays a two-ball format. Mike Bechard and Connor Phillips came in three strokes behind Zaranek and Devos with a 5-under, 67, while Jon Farrell and Mateo Godek tied Joe Brosseau and David Miccolli for third at 3-under, 69.
In the 15 and 16 division, Bradley Durand and James Longhi fired a 4-under, 68 to capture first place. Connor Piecuch and Jon Elkins finished second with a 70, and Jack Hogan and Matt Brosseau took third with a 71.
Mikey Corduff and Dan Cavanaugh won the 14-and-under division with a 75.
In the 12 and 13 division, which played a scramble format, John Soltys and Andy Soltys took first place with a 4-under, 31. Kyle Maynard and Gabe Mota placed second with a 34, and Jaelyn Deboise and Connie Dai were third with a 36. Bob Provost and Ryan Cote tied Nick Coelho and Rex Maccarini for fourth with a 39.
Galen Fowles and Reilly Fowles won the 11-and-under division with a 31. Vinny Mercadante and Mathew Bolduc were second with a 34, and Caden Matuszcak and Drew Glenzel were third at 45.
Rachel Bechard and Alia Godek tied Caitlyn Richmond and Camile Richmond for first place in the Girls’ two-ball division with a 79.
In the Mixed two-ball division, Anna Casagrande and Frank Murry took first place with a 75, while Mackenzie Felty and Jake Wilson were second with a 79.