7-0 Melrose could clinch league this week
Published October 23, 2020
By JENNIFER GENTILE
MELROSE—The Red Raider golf locomotive continues to steamroll over the competition as they continue their flawless 7-0 season after a pair of wins last week over Watertown and Wilmington.
Melrose hosted Watertown last Thursday, October 16, at Mt. Hood Golf Club and enjoyed a clean sweep behind the starting efforts of Quinn McCarthy, Will Pierce, Brendan Fennell, Thomas Brodeur, Charlie Haggerty, Patrick Cotter, Brian Healy and Anthony Delgenio. All of them took wins over their rival Raiders for a clean victory that was replicated on Monday, Oct. 19 against Wilmington. There, Melrose earned their 7th straight victory at The Hillview Country Club in a 54-18 sweep.
So far this season, what’s been Melrose’s secret? It’s all about depth.
The Red Raiders boast upperclassmen experience thanks to senior captains Quinn McCarthy, Will Pierce and Thomas Brodeur. The three have all participated in statewide competition in their younger years (with Brodeur being a North champ) and that advantage was amplified this fall when significant off-season moves helped create what is now one of Melrose’s best teams in several years. Longtime coach Rick McDermod concedes that we might be looking at one of their finest team in decades. “Our depth makes this team something special,” he notes. “We lost one quality player last year but gained two starters, so it’s all worked out.”
His senior captains, McCarthy, Pierce and Brodeur, might arguably be the best trio he’s ever had, and now in their final years, they are rising to the occasion. What we are seeing on the green is evidence. Says the coach, “I’ve had Quinn and Will since freshman year, Thomas since sophomore year. They’ve grown and played some of their best golf during the last few years. Coming into the fall we were already strong.”
Then, add two football players (Brendan Fennell, Charlie Haggerty) who hit the ground running and earned top spots, and Melrose is now seeing a transformation. “I acknowledge that these are my loaner kids,” he laughs. “These are football players. And that’s fine. I’ll take them when I can.”
It’s been a flawless season with flawless weather and a tremendous roster. How good are things in Melrose golf right now? “We’re enjoying every minute of it. We’re playing golf the way it’s intended to be played,” says McDermod.
During any other season, Melrose would likely be competing in a postseason right now. This year, they would have probably made a dent in it, too. Due to COVID-19 restrictions, there will be no postseason for any high school sport. “That’s something the kids are thinking about,” says the coach. “It’s only natural to think about the ‘what ifs’, but we have a concrete goal to win the league and finish undefeated at 10-0. And, we believe we can do it.”
To accomplish that, they will have to beat rival Wakefield twice in a row. It all comes down to the season finale that starts on Monday, Oct. 24 at Thompson Country Club and ends at Bellevue Golf Club on Thursday, Oct. 29 at 3:00 p.m.
The Warriors come into the matches unbeaten at 6-0 after a recent win over Burlington, so it’s going to be a doozy. Clearly, the Red Raiders would like to finish the season 10-0, although it’s not unreasonable to think they could potentially split wins, as Wakefield comes to the green with their top shooters, Jack Ryan, Oliver Miller and Cal Tryder.
Maybe the best team win.
