UPDATE: Melrose defeats Wilmington after topping Freedom competition in ML Shootout

FOR THE fifth straight year, the Melrose High golf team swept Freedom competition at the Middlesex League Shootout last week. (courtesy photo)

After press time:
Melrose defeats Wilmington 37-35 (Oct. 2)

Published October 4, 2024

Melrose tops Freedom opponents for 5^th straight year

By JENNIFER GENTILE

MELROSE—For the fifth straight year, the Melrose High golf team swept the Freedom league at the 2024 Middlesex League Shoot Out at Bear Hill on Thursday, Sept. 27.

Melrose sent their top three shooters, Noah Fay, Matt Fuccione and Mikey Thomas to represent the team against some tough competition like Burlington and Wakefield. But the trio’s collective effort helped top the competition to bring the trophy back home to Melrose again.

Senior captain Noah Fay had Melrose’s top score of 75, missing the championship spot at the top to Wakefield rival Pat Maloney, who shot a 74. Melrose’s Fuccione and Thomas followed in order.

“It was a good day, we beat the rain and were able to host Belmont later that afternoon,” reports head coach Rick McDermod. “We averaged out scores well. I’m happy with their effort and to have the trophy again.”

Previously, Melrose had taken a well-earned win against Danvers at Rowley Country Club. The Falcons were a fairly unknown team to Melrose, but it was a close match that Melrose prevailed in, 39-33. “We had a lot of wins in the match and it was a good match against an opponent we may revisit next season,” says the coach.

Taking wins over Danvers were Matt Fuccione, Noah Fay, Mikey Thomas, Tanner Kovacs, Ben Kavanaugh, and Dylan Harrington. Tying their matches were Colin Cote and Aiden Ryan.

Melrose then faced challenges in their later Middlesex League matches, down a few players from illness, which left a hole in the lineup mid match against Belmont on Sept. 27. Still, they had a respectable showing 29.5-42.5 with a win by Dylan Harrington and a tie by Fuccione.

They would later play Burlington at Billerica Country Club and fall in a narrow loss 34-38 behind wins from Fuccione, Harrington and a tie by Colin Cote. Another effort against Reading saw Melrose shooters Tanner Kovacs and Ben Kavanaugh prevail against their opponents.

“These scores were pretty close considering we were shorthanded, in fact in our match against Belmont, we lost a player mid match to illness that left a giant hole in scoring. But we preserved to win the ML Shoot Out and we will take it.”

Next up is Senior Night, which happens this week on Thursday (post deadline) when Melrose hopes to skin the Woburn Tanners for another league win. They wrap their season up on Monday, Oct. 7 at home at Bellevue against Arlington at 3:30 p.m. Stay tuned.