2024 MIAA Division 2 Golf Sectionals: Norton, Wakefield secure first championships; Nashoba, Pope Francis back on top

Shawn Clary dazzled with an even-par 72 over his home course at Segregansett Country Club in Taunton, and paved the way for Norton High School to win the first sectional golf championship in school history, taking home the 2024 MIAA Division 2 South Golf Championship.

Zac Georgantas of Foxborough High School edged Clary for medalist honors, with a birdie on No. 16 and pars on his final two holes to card a 1-under-par 71 on the Segregansett layout. Max St. Aubin of Nauset Regional High School was third at +1.

Norton's combined effort of +31 was 6 strokes better than runner-up Old Rochester Regional High School. Adding solid scoring efforts for the Lancers were Jack Regan and Mason Ball, both tied for 12th individually at +10, as well as Griffin Clary (T-20, +11).

Duxbury (+38) and Nauset (+41) emerged from a tight battle at the top of the 15-team field to secure the remainder of the four team spots in the Division 2 State Championship on Monday, October 21 at Berkshire Hills Country Club in Williamstown.

Division 2 North

Patrick Maloney finished in a tie for third at 6-over-par 76, and Wakefield Memorial High School captured its first sectional golf championship in the Division 2 North tournament at Brookline Golf Course.

Cole Velardo of Masconomet Regional High School was 2 strokes better with a 4-over 74 on the Brookline Blue course, earning medalist honors. Velardo also helped the Chieftains to a share of second place as a team along with Newburyport High School at +51 overall. The top three teams advance to the Division 2 State Championship on Monday, October 21 at Berkshire Hills CC.

But both teams were 3 strokes behind Wakefield, which combined for a +48. Brayden Mayette was in a three-way tie for 10th place at +11, followed by Daegan Pothier (T-25, +15) and Luke Greif (T-31, +16).

Arlington Catholic High School's Patrick Clair (+5) was second individually, 1 stroke behind Velardo, while Matthew Fuccione of Melrose High School shared third with Maloney with his +6.

Division 2 Central

Nashoba Regional placed two players in the top four spots, and a third in the top 10 overall, all critical finishes to lead the Wolves to the 2024 MIAA Division 2 Central Golf Championship at Marlborough Country Club. It was the first sectional golf championship for the school since 1991.

The Nashoba tandem of Troy Gregg and Jackson Marsteiner each shot 4-over-par 75 on the par-71 Marlboro course, earning them a tie for second with Patrick Dalton of Westwood High School. All three golfers finished a pair of strokes back of Charlie Leighton of Blackstone Valley Regional, whose 2-over 73 earned him medalist honors.

Nashoba's Mason Bowie shot a 5-over 76 and was among six players tied for fifth place overall. Nolan Engelhardt, the 2023 co-medalist, shot an 8-over 79 and was tied for 14th overall, earning the key final spot in the scoring for Nashoba. That helped give the Wolves, who finished at +21 as a team, the edge they needed over runner-up Westwood. Led by Dalton, the Wolverines were at +27, with Leighton and Blackstone Valley taking third at +31.

Westwood's Lilly Gulesarian and Blackstone Valley's Leopaul Gamelin also were in the pack at +5, helping their teams earn a spot in the Division 2 State Championship on Monday, October 21 at Berkshire Hills Country Club in Pittsfield.

Division 2 West

Michael McGrath shot a 1-over 72, just 1 stroke off the pace, and teammate Quinn Woytowicz (+6) was in a three-way tie for third place overall as Pope Francis Preparatory took home the 2024 MIAA Division 2 West Golf championship at Taconic Golf Club in Williamstown.

Wahconah's Tim Kaley shot even-par 71 to repeat as individual champion. Kaley and the Warriors (+36) finished as runners-up to Pope Francis, which shot a combined +25 to win the school's first golf championship since 2015, when it was known as Springfield Cathedral.

Rounding out the scoring for the winning Cardinals were Jack Dias and Jack Ouellette, each at +9 (T-7).

Leominster's Luke Grebinar and Tantasqua's Sam Pieczynski shared third place with Woytowicz. Pieczynski's effort led the way for Tantasqua to finish third overall as a team (+46).