After finishing the regular-season as the unbeaten Bi-County League West champions, the Franklin County Technical School golf team continued its outstanding season Monday with another stellar performance.
The Eagles posted a total of 363 to finish as runners-up in the Western Massachusetts Division III Championship held at The Orchards in South Hadley. Monson High School captured the title at 352, while FC Tech held off third-place Lee High School (364) by a stroke and fourth-place Lenox Memorial High School (365) by two to snag second-place.
“I think we’ve had a pretty incredible season, and one of the things I tried to instill in my players going into (Monday’s tournament) is humility,” FC Tech coach Sean Knightly explained. “Golf is a funny game. One day you can shoot well and the next you can run into some problems. Just because we had a great season, it’s no guarantee of success in a tournament like today.
“So I tried to encourage them to be relaxed,” he continued. “Just be themselves and have fun. It’s a great honor to play in the western Mass. finals. And they did a great job.”
Like they did all season, the Eagles rode the play of a deep and balanced lineup Monday. Tech put two golfers in the top 10, as Michael Patnode shot 86 to finish in seventh place and Michael McGoldrick carded an 88 to tie for ninth place.
Lee’s Thomas Fraser shot 77 to earn the individual championship on the Par 70 course.
While Patnode and McGoldrick paced the FC Tech lineup, the squad wound up with five golfers breaking 100 and finishing in the top 25. Hunter Sessions shot 94 and finished 18th, while Travis Cutting was the team’s other scoring member with a round of 98 to finish in a tie for 21st. Not to be outdone, Nate Pelletier was right behind with a 99, good enough for 23rd. Jordan DiGeorge rounded out the squad with a round of 127.
“I think balance has made all the difference in the world,” said Knightly of his squad, which went just 4-13 a year ago. “Last year we didn’t have the numbers to put forth a full team. This year, of the six players that entered matches, we were fortunate to have the majority of them shoot in the 40s. The guys really embraced the team concept.”
On the strength of the runner-up showing, FC Tech qualified for the MIAA Division III State Championship, scheduled for Monday at Wyantenuck Country Club in Great Barrington. The shotgun start is set for 10 a.m.
“This is a special team,” lauded Knightly of the Eagles. “That really started to set in when players and other coaches congratulated us after their performance today.”
The other local team to qualify for Monday’s WMass Tournament, Mohawk Trail Regional High School, finished eighth at The Orchards.
Just qualifying for the event was an impressive feat for the Warriors, who hadn’t had a team compete in a WMass Tournament since 2008. Since then, Mohawk posted a record of 12-107-1 in eight seasons, including back-to-back winless campaigns in 2015 and 2016.
“From going winless last year to getting shut out in our first match this year to qualifying for the tournament is amazing,” offered Mohawk coach Lew Goodnow. “It’s a huge deal for us. I’m so proud of these guys.”
This year’s team got back on the winning track, posting a .500 record of 7-7 overall to punch its ticket to Monday’s tournament.
“I kind of feel like, since we didn’t win at all last year, once we got the first win, our confidence just got better and better,” Goodnow said. “There was just a whole different attitude.”
Mohawk was led by the tandem of Andy Robertson and Triston LaCross, who tied for the team’s low round of the day at 117. Will Guyette and Tristan Keyser-Parker also contributed toward Mohawk’s scoring total (502) with rounds of 131 and 141.
“Obviously, the kids were not happy with the way they played, but I had told them going in that the big deal was just making it,” said Goodnow. “Next year, we’ll work on qualifying for states or finishing in the middle of pack. Today was just about enjoying the weather, the course and the experience.”
Mohawk returns its entire roster next season, and Goodnow’s club has no seniors. The Warriors should certainly be a team to watch with a successful year under their belts.