Wakefield golf wins North Sectional Championship for first time in program history

By DAN PAWLOWSKI

BROOKLINE — The Wakefield High golf team made history on Wednesday at the Brookline Golf Course. For the first time, the Warriors are Div. 2 North Sectional State Champions. 

“I’m just so proud of them,” said head coach Chris Keane. “It’s tough – you play consistently for two months but only have one day to make it count in the tournament. I knew if they played well, they could beat anyone.”

Wakefield’s score of +48 finished above Newburyport and Masconomet, who both finished tied for 2^nd at +51. 

Each team has six golfers compete. The top four scores count towards the final team total. 

Sophomore Patrick Maloney shot a 76 at Putterham (also known as the Robert T. Lynch Municipal Course) to finish 3^rd overall and first for Wakefield. The course is a Par-70.

Sophomore Brayden Myette shot an 81 for 10^th overall.

Senior Daegan Pothier shot an 85 for 25^th overall. 

Senior captain Luke Greif shot an 86 for 31^st overall.

“This one was super special to us,” said Greif. “It was very exciting to coach Keane and the team since this has never happened before in program history. Not only did our hard work pay off in and out of the season, but our determination to go out and take first place made it unforgettable.”

Wakefield’s performance on Wednesday was the perfect culmination of a collection work that began in the offseason. The numbers, 3 and 11, were always on the minds of Wakefield’s leaders. That was their overall record in 2023. 

Relentless work in the summer led to a complete turnaround this year. The Warriors finished 9-4-1 overall as the outright Middlesex League Freedom Division champions for the first time in a decade. 

“This was a great turnaround after last year’s struggle,” said Pothier. “We had a great offseason and put in the work which made it count. I am proud of the boys and thankful we have such a great coach.”

“This was a great team win all around,” agreed Maloney. “I’m really proud of all the work that everyone put in. Coach Keane showed a lot of determination after last year’s season and I’m happy for him and all the guys.”

Keane wanted his Warriors to gain more experience playing competitive golf over the summer. Wakefield had accomplished leaders like Greif and Pothier this season, but they were still very young with three sophomores and two freshmen in the starting lineup. A focus on hitting tough shots under pressure would lead to success in the regular season and hopefully, the state tournament. 

That mindset helped the Warriors handle a difficult course in less than ideal conditions on Wednesday. 

“The course played tough,” said Keane. “It was windy, cold, there were leaves falling and hard greens. It was a matter of who can survive the course, set aside bad holes and move on? 

“They handled it so well and that’s a credit to their hard work throughout the season in playing competitively and hitting tough shots while everyone is watching.”

The Warriors didn’t take any shortcuts this season. Success in anything is only earned through hard work. That’s especially true for golf. There is no substitution for practice and repetition. 

Wakefield took their hard work to another level this year. Nobody on the team missed a practice or a match all season. They prepared like pros for every matchup: prepping each course, practicing each shot and building each other up when something didn’t go to plan – a key golf skill in its own right. 

That dedication only occurs when your leaders demand it. Captain Greif implored his team to work on their games all year long. He had index cards with notes on it for each course and he helped the Warriors become addicted to preparation. 

“He’s a terrific kid,” said Keane of Greif. “Everything you could ask for in a leader and a captain.”

Greif and the Warriors prepared for the North Sectionals by playing two practice rounds in Brookline. That course was unforgiving on Wednesday, but it was nothing they hadn’t seen before. 

Wakefield will now move on to the State Finals for the first time in program history. The top three schools in each of the four sectional tournaments will meet in the Finals. Wakefield, Masco and Newburyport will be joined by Norton, Old Rochester and Duxbury from the South; Nashoba, Westwood and Blackstone Valley from the Central and Pope Francis, Wahconah and Tantasqua of the West.

Preparation for those finals will be tough for those teams, especially from the North and South as the MIAA is holding the State Finals at Berkshire Hills Country Club in Pittsfield on Monday, quite literally the furthest course in the state they could’ve chosen. 

Of course, the Warriors won’t worry so much about that. 

“Just super excited for one last round,” said Greif. “We can’t wait.”

As long as they replicate their hard work and mindset that has led to this historic season, the Warriors can take a swing at making more history on Monday. 

“Take it seriously, push aside bad holes, bounce back from mistakes, stay focused and play a full 18,” said Keane. “Do that, and we can play with anybody.”