Masconomet sophomore Hayes Maher and Newburyport senior Jack Oreal shared medalist honors at the MIAA Division 2 North qualifier held Tuesday at Bradford Country Club, each carding a 1-under-par 70. Maher started his round on the seventh hole, posting birdies on No. 17, No. 18, No. 4, and No. 6. He showcased a strong short game, including a chip-in from a bunker on No. 17 followed by a successful five-foot putt on No. 18 for back-to-back birdies. Oreal began on the first hole and overcame an early double bogey on No. 9 by shooting four consecutive birdies from holes 12 through 15, marking a career-best performance.
Masconomet, buoyed by strong rounds from Maher, Cooper Wassung (72), and Brendan O’Connor (73), finished with a team score of 10-over 294, securing a six-stroke victory over Newburyport, which posted 300. Milton (302) and Wakefield (306) also qualified for the Division 2 state final scheduled for Monday at Franklin Country Club, narrowly edging defending state champion Canton (306).
Masconomet junior varsity coach Andrew Boepple praised his team’s consistency, highlighting their resilience during practice sessions without complaints. Maher reflected on his round, noting that he remained focused despite early bogeys, while Oreal described how he reset after a challenging front nine and capitalized on scoring opportunities on the back nine.
In other Division 2 qualifying action, Dover-Sherborn senior Jai Moulton posted a 6-over 78 at Blissful Meadows to claim medalist honors by one stroke over Nashoba’s Nolan Englehardt and Bedford’s Brayden Finn, both shooting 79. Medfield edged Norwood by one stroke, 335 to 336, with contributions from Jackson Shaughnessy (80) and Kevin Nee (84), and Archbishop Williams (337) also advanced to the state finals.
In Division 3 South, Old Rochester secured a repeat sectional championship at Easton Country Club with a team total of 312. Jack Czerkowicz led the way with a 2-over-par 73, sharing medalist honors with Alex Saunders of Sturgis West and Aidan Connell of Seekonk. Norwell and Sandwich tied for second at 327. Old Rochester coach Chris Cabe noted the increased pressure his team faced this year, emphasizing depth across all six players as a key factor in their success.
At Stow Acres Country Club in Division 3 North, no player from the winning team, Triton, finished in the top 10 individually, but the Vikings posted a team score of 314 thanks to contributions from Evan Allen (78), Cullen Kohan (78), Jack Gagne (79), and Connor Kevin (79). Reid Faldi of Hamilton-Wenham repeated as individual medalist with a 71, followed by Amesbury’s Jack Kusler (72). Faldi credited his composure and steady mindset for his performance.
In Division 3 Central competition at Marlboro Country Club, Hopedale and West Bridgewater both posted team scores of 340, with Hopedale prevailing on a fifth-card tiebreaker to claim the title. Advanced Math and Science secured the third qualifying spot by a similar tiebreaker over Tri-County. Sutton’s John O’Leary captured the individual medalist honor with an 80.
Finally, in Division 3 West at Ludlow Country Club, Monty Tech finished first with a score of 337, outpacing Franklin County Tech (341) and Lenox (347). Medalist honors went to Franklin County Tech’s Brady Wood, who shot a 7-over 79.
The top teams from these sectional qualifiers will advance to their respective state finals later this week.