Bator Bests Field at Berkshire Classic
STOCKBRIDGE, Mass. -- Not much has gone right for the Drury golf team this fall.
But senior Nick Bator was right on at Sunday's Berkshire Classic individuals championship.
Bator carded a 6-over-par round of 77 to win the championship at Stockbridge Golf Club.
"This is a bright spot," Drury coach Don Dagnoli said. "We've had a tough season. We lost two tie-breakers and another one-stroke match, but this takes a little of the sting away.
"It's a bright spot for our team, and we're happy for Nick."
With a record of 4-9, the Blue Devils are not in contention for a team spot in the Western Massachusetts championship, but Bator will be going as an individual to the Oct. 20 state qualifier at Cranwell.
As a sophomore, Bator was low man for Drury two years ago when it won a team Western Mass Division 2 title in Wilbraham.
"I'm very happy for Nick," Dagnoli said while waiting for the last couple of groups to finish on Sunday afternoon. "He's been playing great for five years. If that scores holds up for him, it's really the culmination of five years of hard work.
"He's a talented kid, and I'm happy for him."
Bator's 77 was two strokes better than the freshman pair who tied for second: Lee's Thomas Fraser and Mount Greylock's Ben Gilooly. Gilooly's teammate, Kyle Alvarez, finished in fourth place with an 80.
The Berkshire Classic invites the top three golfers from each of the county league's programs. Twenty-three boys and two girls took on the Stockbridge layout. Wahconah's Collette Basiliere carded the best score among the girls with an 87 that was good for 11th place overall.
Bator recorded one birdie on Sunday, chipping to within a couple of feet of the hole on his approach on the 455-yard, par-5 15th hole. His other memorable moment was not a birdie -- or even a par -- and it came on the 350-yard, par-4 No. 12.
"I hit one into the river and ended up making bogey," he said. "So it was a save even though it wasn't a great score."
Bator said he has played Stockbridge eight times, including the last couple of Berkshire Classics. He doesn't have quite as much experience at Cranwell.
"I've played the course a few times," he said. "From what I remember, it's pretty tough. I'm going to have to play well to have an impact there."
Nick Bator, Drury, 38-39--77
Thomas Fraser, Lee, 39-40--79
Ben Gilloly, Mount Greylock, 41-38-79
Kyle Alvarez, Mount Greylock, 40-40-80
Jonathan Dos Santos, Wahconah, 40-42-82
Devyn Olds, Lee, 42-40-82
Kevin Coakley, Lenox, 44-39--83
Mike Kays, Taconic, 41-42--83
Kyle Rochelo, Taconic, 42-43--85
Kevin Quinto, Pittsfield, 41-44--85
Collette, Basiliere, Wahconah, 46-41--87
Dylan Buffoni, Monument Mountain, 46-41-87
Gage Frazer, Wahconah, 44-43--87
Justin Martin, Pittsfield, 43-45--88
Jack Sniezek, Hoosac Valley, 42-46--88
Andy Cella, St. Joseph, 44-46--90
Matt Wiseman, Mount Greylock, 42-49--91
Aaron Coons, Monument Mountain, 48-44--92
Jake Driscoll, Pittsfield, 49-43--92
Bryce Whalen, Lee, 43-49--92