Pittsfield's Quinto Wins Berkshire County Classic in Playoff
STOCKBRIDGE, Mass. -- Kevin Quinto was hitting the ball well at the end of 18 holes at Sunday’s Berkshire County Classic high school championship.
But his 19th hole was better yet.
Quinto won the championship in a sudden death playoff at Stockbridge Golf Club after hitting the pin on his approach shot on the 345-yard, par-4 16th hole.
“I was hitting the ball well at the end my round,” Quinto said after beating Mount Greylock’s Ben Gilooly, who tied for the lead at 5-over 76. “I knew that if I got over the nerves, I’d be alright. I hit two good shots and two-putted, and it was all good.”
Quinto drove the ball down the middle of the fairway, leaving himself about 80 yards to the pin. He hit a sand wedge dead center, delighting the gallery that followed the pair up the fairway when the ball rattled off the stick. Instead of dropping into the hole, it kicked back about 10 feet, leaving him a reasonable birdie putt.
“I knew it was a good shot,” Quinto said. “I didn’t think it was going to be that good and it was going to end up that close. But I was pretty relieved and knew I had just a pretty easy two putt to come in.”
Gilooly’s tee shot went left, but was still very playable in the tee box for 17. But he pulled his second shot out of bounds to the left of the green, forcing him to hit a provisional ball to the green and taking some of the drama out of Quinto’s birdie try.
On a day when the leading edge of former Hurricane Matthew provided rain and tricky breezes, Quinto had a stiffening wind in his favor during the playoff.
“I definitely swung a little easier,” he said. “I felt it at my back and knew that if I just got it in the air, the wind would carry it a little bit and probably play a little skipper and catch and spin. But it hit the pin.”
Quinto and Gilooly were two of five golfers to break 80 among the 23 who participated in the Classic.
Taconic’s Mike Kays finished third with a 78. Lee’s Thomas Fraser and Wahconah’s Jon Dos Santos tied for fourth at 79. Dos Santos’ brother Nate finished just behind them, tying Lee’s Bryce Whalen at 80.
The even-tempered Gilooly took the playoff disappointment in stride.
“Not too much to say,” Gilooly said. “A little bit the wind, a little bit me, but it was just an unlucky bounce.”
In his regular round, Gilooly said he had a little trouble getting started and getting warmed up on the chilly Sunday. The same slow start also affected Taconic’s Kays.
“I had a good save on the (383-yard, par-4) fourth hole,” Kays said. “I had a 12-foot par putt and sank that. That’s where it really shifted. I started playing well after that. I had a rough start. I was probably four over through five holes, and I really turned it around.”
Strong finishes were a theme among the leaders on Sunday. Quinto made the turn at 5-over 41 but played even par on the back nine to get into the playoff.
“I pretty much knew I was going to have to shoot even par or better if I wanted a chance at winning,” he said. “I just had to grind it out and make sure I had a decent score at end of the day.”
Results Sunday at the Berkshire County Individuals golf championship at Stockbridge Golf Club, par 71 (*indicates won sudden death playoff on hole No. 16):
Kevin Quinto, Pittsfield, 76*
Ben Gilooly, Mount Greylock, 76
Mike Kays, Taconic, 78
Thomas Fraser, Lee, 79
Jon Dos Santos, Wahconah, 79
Nate Dos Santos, Wahconah, 80
Bryce Whalen, Lee, 80
Ross Omelenchuck, Taconic, 86
Ricky Berrian, Pittsfield, 88
Kyle Alvarez, Mount Greylock, 89
Justin Martin, Pittsfield, 90
Jack Sniezek, Hoosac Valley, 90
Luc Trombley, Hoosac Valley, 93
Collette Basiliere, Wahconah, 94
Tim Curry, Taconic, 94
Noah Hunter, Lenox, 95
Hunter Roosa, Lee, 97
Derek Alibozek, Hoosac Valley, 99
Max Joyner, Monument Mountain, 99
Bennett Zimmerman, Mount Greylock, 99
Matt Shields, Lenox, 100
Lexi Shumsky, Monument Mountain, 100
Matt Iemolini, Monument Mountain, 115