Southwick’s No.1 golfer Matthew Garrity tees off on the first hole at the state Division 2 golf championships Tuesday at Taconic Golf Club in Williamstown. (Photo by Chris Putz)
WILLIAMSTOWN – The Southwick high school golf team’s magical mystery tour has come to an end.
Southwick wrapped up its season, finishing as the 12th best team in the entire state at the Massachusetts Division 2 golf championships Tuesday at Taconic Golf Club up near the borders of New York and Vermont.
Winchester won the team title by just one stroke (313) over runners-up Concord-Carlisle (314). Trevor Lopez claimed the individual championship with an even-par 71, one stroke better than Wayland’s Liam Gill.
The 2019 West Sectional Division 2 champ, Southwick sophomore Matthew Garrity shot an 84. Garrity not only had to compete against the state’s best golfers, but also battled through illness.
“Honestly, I was just trying to get through the first nine (holes),“ said Garrity, who had been dealing with flu-like symptoms for nearly three days leading up to Tuesday’s championships. “Once I got to the back nine I just wanted to be in bed.”
Garrity began the day on the course’s second hole. The Rams’ sophomore golfer said by the time he reached the eighth hole he “felt a lot weaker” and “became fatigued really quick.”
Southwick’s top golfer easily could have been scratched from the competition, but said he gutted it out for his teammates.
“Just because it’s states, I wanted to be there,” Garrity said. “This was the first time at states. I strive to give my teammates confidence.”
Southwick sophomore Jesse Johnson shot an 89. He was followed by fellow teammates: senior Ben Cleland (99), freshman Matt Coviello (102), sophomore Andrew Morris (108), and senior Ryan Laferriere (110).
“These are high quality opponents … and there are no breaks on this course,” Southwick head golf coach Joseph Whalen said. “You have to be precise with drives, extremely accurate with approach shots, and extremely delicate with putting.”
Southwick’s head coach said he was proud of his team’s effort, capping off a sensational season as the west region’s runners-up after going 3-15 a year ago.
Said Whalen: “Whatever happened today takes nothing away from the season.”
GIRLS SOCCER
Westfield Technical Academy 0, Pathfinder 0
Westfield Tech closed out its season with a shutout against a tournament-bound foe. Tigers’ keeper Ari Levere made six saves.
