Melrose’s Thomas Brodeur earns Sectional title
Published October 25, 2019
By JENNIFER GENTILE
2019 LEAGUE Champion Red Raider golf team members: (from left) Matt Lynch, Thomas Brodeur, Quinn McCarthy, Timmy Healy, Sean Senior, Will Pierce and coach Rick McDermod. Missing from photo: Anthony Delgenio, Brian Healy and Liam Gage. (courtesy photo)
MELROSE—The Melrose High golf team is celebrating a historic week that saw the Red Raiders earn their second straight league title and advance to the MIAA State Finals for the first time in 18 years. The Red Raiders competed at the MIAA North Sectionals on Monday at Far Corner Golf Course in Boxford and placed third with a total score of 322 points, shooting +34 to par, third only to winner Winchester and Concord Carlisle.
Melrose edged out rival Wakefield (326 points) for a trip to the dance. Now, the Red Raiders will compete at the Div. 2 State finals on Tuesday at Taconic Golf Course, represented by Will Pierce, Quinn McCarthy, Sean Senior, Timmy Healy, Thomas Brodeur and Matt Lynch. That was also the group on Monday who got the job done.
“It was a great day for us. I’m thrilled for them,” said longtime coach Rick McDermod. “Only three teams today get to go to States. Our guys did what I asked of them and then some. This is our first time since 2001 that we have made it to States. So there is a lot to celebrate.”
TOM BRODEUR swept the competition at the MIAA Div. 2 North golf sectionals, earning the top spot and taking home an individual medal. (courtesy photo)
Thomas Brodeur swept the day among the hundred-plus competing with a top score of 74 points, sharing top honors with Josh Lavallee of Central Catholic. Brodeur’s performance earned him some cool hardware for the ride home. Says the coach, “Thomas had a great day and I’m so happy he topped the field.” Also having a strong day was Will Pierce, who finished sixth overall.
The achievement comes on their heels of Melrose clinching their second straight league title last week by picking up wins over Arlington and Watertown. Melrose beat the Spy Ponders 41-31 behind victories from Quinn McCarthy, Sean Senior, Timmy Healy and Thomas Brodeur. The entire team was successful in a resounding sweep over Watertown a day later. Earning wins were McCarthy, Will Pierce, Senior, Healy, Brodeur, Matt Lynch, Anthony Delgenio, Liam Gage and Brian Healy.
Because of their successful regular season, Melrose named a handful of league All-Stars. Earning honors are Will Piece, Quinn McCarthy, Sean Senior and Timmy Healy. Pierce was also named All-Conference, placing him among the best in both large and small divisions.
The Red Raiders finish their regular season 8-3. Now, they will make the nearly three-hour drive to the Taconic course on Sunday for a test drive before Tuesday’s big event.
“We want to get a taste of the course. The competition will be tough,” says the coach. “But it’s an honor to go and if we can have a good showing, even better.”
Stay tuned.
