Golf comes easy to Nick Grimbilas. But his passion for the sport has forced him to hold himself to a higher standard.
So as he stood outside Beaver Meadow Golf Course’s clubhouse after shooting a 35 on Wednesday, leading Bishop Brady to a 26-stroke victory over Pembroke Academy, Grimbilas wasn’t ready to pat himself on the back.
“Overall, it wasn’t a bad day. But I missed a few shots. I left a few out there,” the Strafford native said while his teammates joked behind him.
“Left some shots out there? Dude, you shot 1 under,” senior Danny Bryck said to Grimbilas as they both laughed.
Grimbilas took medalist honors, while Bryck shot a 48. Maddy Smith (39), Mary Anne Wiley (45) and Michael Tauscher (46) also contributed to Bishop Brady’s team score of 213. Justin Legere (42), Sean Moore (46), Steven Cavanaugh (49), Jon Smith (50) and Garette Frew (52) scored for Pembroke Academy, which finished with a score of 239.
“I think we are the only team in the state to be made up of half girls. We are definitely proud of that,” said second-year Bishop Brady Coach Phil Davis, the pro at Beaver Meadow. “And they’re not just girls. They’re quality golfers.”
Davis and Bryck were both quick to acknowledge that the Green Giants rely heavily on Grimbilas’s consistency.
“It’s good to know you’re going to have him for a few more years,” Davis said of the sophomore. “He carried the team as a freshman, too, and he’s come into this season with some real high goals for himself.”
Bryck, a four-year player for Brady, added, “He’s definitely already taken over the reigns. It’s going to be interesting to see how well he does as a senior.”
Grimbilas is coming off a successful summer. He won the New England PGA Junior Tour Championship for his age group. Grimbilas also competed in the Junior Championship at Concord Country Club in July, tying for 15th in stroke play. He lost to Nashua North’s Brandon Gillis, who will play Division I golf at Wake Forest next year, in the first round of match play.
His summer of achievements helped build confidence but it certainly didn’t satisfy his hunger.
“This summer was about getting all of the practice I could get,” Grimbilas said. “My goal now is to make First-Team All State.”
On top of that, he’s hopeful that he can help the Green Giants qualify for the Division II state tournament considering it’ll be held at their home course.
“That would be good for us. We know the course and all the perks but we’d still have to play well,” Grimbilas said.
Bryck added, “It would be a huge advantage. I mean we all play here four or five days a week and have a lot of experience here.”
The trick is getting there first and the Green Giants know they’ll need Grimbilas to continue playing well in order to do that. Luckily, he hasn’t showed any signs of slowing down.
From Monitor staff reports
Belmont 2, Berlin 0
Key players: Belmont – Corey Derosier (goal), Ryan Gelinas (goal), Logan Wilder (2 assists), Jonny Leclair (3 saves)
Highlights/key moments: The Raiders dominated the run of play, putting 30 shots on net against the Mountaineers, but nothing got by until the 55th minute when Derosier opened the scoring. Gelinas added insurance with four minutes left in the match.
Coach’s quote: “For the most part we peppered them non-stop. Their keeper made some good saves and Berlin played a defensive-minded game. It was a very well-balanced team effort tonight.” – Belmont’s Mike Foley
Records: Belmont 3-0-0; Berlin 1-1-1
Hopkinton 6, Monadnock 0
Key players: Hopkinton – Gerry Donahue (2 goals), Max Rossignol (2 goals), Joe Cullinan (goal, 2 assists), Azarius Meister (goal, assist), Derek West (assist), Tucker Windhurst (assist)
Highlights/key moments: The Hawks, who took a 4-0 first-half lead, controlled possession from the start ran away with the victory, not allowing a single shot on net.
Coach’s quote: “Azarius’s hard-working efforts at forward paid off with the goal and assist. The defense of Dustin Rose, Paul Molnar and Seamus Quinn did well to prevent any dangerous scoring opportunities to develop.” – Hopkinton’s Scott Zipke
Records: Hopkinton 2-0; Monadnock 0-2
Girls’ soccer
Bishop Brady 2, White Mtns. 1, 2OT
Key players: Bishop Brady – Dana Fahey (game-winning goal), Maddie Boyer (goal)
Highlights/key moments: Boyer scored seven minutes into the match and the Spartans tied the game, 1-1, with 12 minutes left in regulation. After a scoreless first overtime, Fahey scored 26 seconds into the second overtime.
Records: Bishop Brady 1-0; White Mtns. 0-1
Field hockey
Bow 5, White Mtns. 1
Key players: Bow – Claire Mulvaney (goal), Sonya Delorie (goal, assist), Brenna Novakowski (goal), Dom Biron (goal), Dillon Hicks (goal), Cassey Meaney (assist)
Highlights/key moments: The Falcons and Spartans were tied 1-1 at halftime, but Bow scored three goals in the first nine minutes into the second half to seal the win. Defenders Mulvaney and Hicks scored their first goals and Novakkowski scored her first varsity goal.
Coach’s quote: “ It was a good opener. Bow played hard for 60 minutes.” – Bow’s Tracy Berube
Records: Bow 1-0; White Mtns. 0-1
Gilford 6, Bishop Brady 0
Key players: Bishop Brady – Emma Windsor (8 saves), Lauren Roy (solid play at midfield)
Highlights/key moments: The Green Giants trailed 3-0 at halftime and couldn’t come back in their season opener.
Records: Gilford 1-0; Bishop Brady 0-1
Berlin 2, Winnisquam 0
Key players: Winnisquam – Riley Toupin (12 saves), Samantha Wood (defense), Kaylee Tierney (defense), McKayla Toupin (defense), Jasmine Gove (defense)
Highlights/key moments: The Bears played great defense in their season-opener, but came out flat offensively.
Coach’s quote: “We were just sluggish. The defense was phenomenal, but (overall) we didn’t seem like we had any fire under our feet.” – Winnisquam’s Cherie Snow
Records: Berlin 1-0; Winnisquam 0-1
Boys’ cross country
Coe-Brown first, John Stark fourth
Key players:Coe-Brown – Zach Richards (1st, 17:25), Evan Tanguay (3rd), Tanner Richards (4th), Davio Deluca (5th), River Groves (7th); John Stark – Brandon Langdon (14th), Jack Hagan (37th), Owen Payeur (38th), Erik Hilyard (44th), Jack MacCallum (54th)
Highlights/key moments: The Bears took five of the top seven spots to nearly sweep their season-opening race on their home course. Coe-Brown (20) topped Mascenic (54), Goffstown (70), John Stark (120), Sanborn (122).
Girls’ cross country
Coe-Brown first, John Stark third
Key players:Coe-Brown – Alli Pratt (1st, 20:08), Elly McDonough (2nd), Hannah Daly (3rd), Sarah Dupuis (4th), Abigail O’Connor (5th); John Stark – Hailey Erskine (11th), Haleigh Bilodeau (18th), Katelyn Brennan (19th), Alison Wright (20th), Anna Salisbury (23rd)
Highlights/key moments: The Bears claimed all of the top five spots in their season-opening meet to sweep their opponents on their home course. Coe-Brown (15) bested Mascenic (68), John Stark (83), Goffstown (100), Sanborn (102).