The golfers at Monday’s Division 1 state championship gathered inside after finishing their rounds at William Devine Golf Course at Franklin Park. They watched as the scores were entered into a spreadsheet projected onto the clubhouse wall.
It was clear the team title was going to be close once the scores started rolling in, and sure enough, Xaverian and St. John’s Prep were tied at 298 after their top four golfers’ scores were tallied.
The individual title was even closer— four players shot a 1-over-par 71.
Thanks to a 79 by Xaverian’s fifth golfer, senior Michael Conners, the Hawks claimed the team championship, edging Prep by two strokes.
“As much as you rely on your top guys, to see us as a team come through today, it’s really a thrill to see,’’ Xaverian coach Gerry Lambert said. “Because that’s a lot of guys working hard from their freshman year through their senior year, and they deserve all the credit.’’
Xaverian was led by Jack Boulger (73), Andrew McInerney (74), Davis Kelleher (74), and David Carey (76). Prep’s top four were Chris Francoeur (71), Mark Turner (73), Griffin Chenard (75), and Trent Han (79). The Eagles’ fifth golfer was Cole English, who shot an 81.
“Prep had gotten us twice earlier in the year, but both matches were close,’’ Lambert said. “We knew we were going to have to shoot well today, and for us to have the fifth score be the difference, a real thrill for Michael Conners and a real thrill for our entire team.’’
A sudden-death playoff decided the individual state champion, and the golfers returned to the course to watch BC High sophomore Nathan Ingram, St. John’s Prep’s Francoeur, East Longmeadow senior Noah Peterson, and St. John’s Shrewsbury senior Brendan Cronin tee off for the crown.
Ingram’s tee shot landed in the middle of the fairway, and the sophomore needed another shot to approach the green. His third shot landed on the edge of the hole, and he tipped it in to finish the No. 1 hole at even par.
Then, he waited.
“I was actually excited to go first, just to get it out of the way,’’ Ingram said. “It was a pressure situation, but I felt like it almost put me in a better mind-set and kind of got me focused more, because I knew I had to step up with the whole gallery there.’’
The three other golfers had to make their putts to tie Ingram with four strokes. Francoeur missed his putt first. Then Peterson sent his try past the hole. Cronin also missed his putt, and Ingram became the first individual champion from BC High.
“That’s definitely a special thing to bring it home for the school for the first time,’’ said Ingram, who had experience at William Devine since the Eagles play a few rounds on the course during tryouts.
“I was 1 under through 15 and then went 2 over through my last four,’’ Ingram said. “I was feeling good then, and I was like, ‘OK, if I drop a couple putts or hit a good shot here and there, I might have a chance to make a run at it.’ ’’
Ingram said he didn’t anticipate being a part of a playoff with his score, but he was relieved when he clinched the title.
“It was a great effort by everybody,’’ he said. “I wasn’t happy that [Cronin] missed it, but at the same time, I was.’’
MIAA Division 1 state championship
at William Devine GC, Franklin Park (Par 70)
Individual — *1. (tie) Nathan Ingram, BC High 71; Noah Peterson, East Longmeadow 71; Chris Francoeur, St. John’s Prep 71; Brendan Cronin, St. John’s Shrewsbury 71; 5. Tommy Downing, Natick 73; 5. Mark Turner, St. John’s Prep 73; 5. Jack Boulger, Xaverian 73; 8. Andrew McInerney, Xaverian 74; 9. Jack O’Donnell, BC High 75; 9. Andrew Lemay, Bridgewater-Raynham 75; 9. James Imai, Brookline 75; 9. Cameron Roberts, Nashoba 75; 9. Griffin Chenard, St. John’s Prep 75.
Team — **1. Xaverian 298 (79); 2. St. John’s Prep 298 (81); 3. BC High 304; 4. St. John’s Shrewsbury 309; 5. Algonquin 310.
* — won in playoff
** — Xaverian wins on score of its 5th golfer.
Emily McCarthy can be reached at emily.mccarthy@globe.com.
