Abderhalden, Shepardson Qualify for State Championships

SOUTHAMPTON, Mass. – The only all-Berkshire County threesome at Tuesday’s Western Massachusetts Division 3 Championships produced the county’s only two qualifiers for next week’s State Championships.

 

Lee’s Joey Abderhalden and Lenox’s Max Shepardson placed third and fifth, respectively, in a 62-player field to earn the right to go to Sterling National Golf Club on Monday and compete for a state title.

 

Abderhalden, competing as an individual on Tuesday, was paired up with Shepardson and McCann Tech’’s Nolan Booth.

 

The trio began on the first tee in the shotgun start.

 

It did not take long for Abderhalden to get going.

 

“I had a tough shot going into the [third] green and left myself a 2-foot putt,” he said. “And then I birdied the first par 5.”

 

That would be the sixth hole at Southampton, giving Abderhalden a solid start on the way to a 5-over-par round that was one of just five scores in the 70s on Tuesday.

 

“It’s definitely a tough course, but if you play in the right spots, it helps tremendously,” Abderhaldn said. “Especially on the par 4s, if you play them in the right spots, you leave yourself good shots in. It helps.”

 

And it helped Abderhalden to get a look at the 6,125-yard layout before Tuesday.

 

“Chad Alibozek, me and Frank Field for Hoosac came up here on Thursday, and we played,” he said. “It helped a lot. We talked about where you want to leave the ball, where the low spots to the greens are and stuff. It definitely helped.”

 

Field finished at 88 on Tuesday to score for the Hurricanes, who placed seventh in the 10-team field behind an 86 from Zach Mongeon.

 

Booth and the McCann Tech Hornets placed ninth in the team competition.

 

McCann Tech’s John Stack cracked the top 10 with an 83.

 

Lenox was the highest finishing Berkshire County team, placing fifth, 39 strokes behind Western Mass champion Montachusett (Monty) Tech of Fitchburg.

 

The Central Mass Bulldogs will join runner-up Hopkins Academy and third-place Franklin Tech in representing the section at the state championships.

 

Lenox’s Shepardson will be making his third straight trip to states. The last two years, he was part of back-to-back Western Mass championship runs for the Millionaires.

 

“It feels good [to go back], but I wish the whole team was going,” he said. “I know they’ll be there to support me, so I’m happy about it.”

 

Unlike Abderhalden, Shepardson got off to a slow start on Tuesday morning, but he turned things around at the turn.

 

“I had a couple of doubles on the front, 6-over going into [No.] 9,” he said. “But I birided nine, and I started to get going a little bit.

 

“I had a good back nine. I was just happy to finish strong.”

 

Top 10 individuals

1. Brett Cherubini, Monty Tech, 74; 2. Joey Mosca, Turners Falls, 76; 3. Joey Abderhalden, Lee, 77; 4. Brady Booska, Franklin Tech, 78; 5. Max Shepardson, Lenox, 79; T-6. Luke Albero, Monty Tech, 81; T-6. Beckham Chouinard, Monty Tech, 81; T-8. Gavin Connors, St. Mary’s, 83; T-8. Andrew St. Cyr, Monty Tech, 83; T-8 Gabe Morris, Franklin Tech, 83; T-8 John Stack, McCann Tech, 83.

 

Teams

1. Monty Tech (319)

2. Hopkins Academy (345)

3. Franklin Tech (348)

4. Turners Falls (351)

5. Lenox (358) Max Shepardson 79; Hunter Shepardson 86; Brady DiGrigoli 92; Oliver Kirby 101; Michael Methe 104; Mia Freeman 107.

6. Pioneer (365)

7. Hoosac Valley (369) Zach Mongeon 86; Frank Field 88; Corey Charron 97; Gabe Bishop 98; Nick Pompi 114; Abby Sialabba 145.

8. Palmer (375)

9. McCann Tech (382) John Stack 83; Logan Driscoll 96; Nolan Booth 100; Kale Kondel 103; Keeghan Scott 104; Mason Rondeau 107.

10. St. Mary’s (394).