The Bishop Brady Giants completed their best run in golf program history on Thursday, becoming three-time Division III champions at Indian Mound Golf Course.
Individually, the top boys were Bishop Brady junior Chase Connor and Kearsarge sophomore Hazen Weathers, who split honors at the top after both shot 3-over-par 73.
The Giants (+33) beat out second-place Kearsarge by 15 strokes in an impressive display by a talented group of seniors. The team had six seniors finish out their careers competing as a team, and they did so in style.
“We’re definitely senior-heavy,” Bishop Brady Head Coach Jason Bird said, “and just lucky to have a good group of kids that play all together, and they stick together, and they really enjoy the game of golf.”
It was a bittersweet feeling for Connor, the only non-senior on this Giants’ squad. He wouldn’t have wanted to be part of any other team, he said.
Brady’s day was bolstered by senior and New Hampshire Women’s Amateur champion Mady Savary, who finished second for the team with 76 strokes. She wasn’t too happy with her golf after a tough stretch of three double bogeys on holes 10-12, she said, but recovered well to keep her team ahead. Her score would have placed her at fourth place on the boys’ qualifier list.
“I’m just super proud to be part of such a great team. They’ve been amazing in how they treated me, and it’s always felt like a family,” Savary said. “I couldn’t wish for any better team, and I love Jay Bird, our coach. He’s been such a huge impact, I think, on all of our lives.”
Bishop Brady’s Chase Connor finished tied for first, 3-over-par, in the Division III coed golf team championship at Indian Mound Golf Course. Credit: JOSHUA SPAULDING / Salmon Press 
Bishop Brady senior Mady Savary finished fourth overall and helped the Giants secure their third golf title in a three-year stretch. Credit: JOSHUA SPAULDING / Salmon Press
The Giants’ other qualifiers were seniors Joseph Rawnsley (8th, +11), Luke Bedard (T-11, +13) and David Cameron (T-11, +13).
With Savary already qualified for the girls’ individual championship and five qualifiers total for Brady, the Giants will have one more shot at glory.
Kearsarge (+48) qualified Weathers and junior Madden Gagnon, who tied for 15th place at 14-over par. The Cougars’ runner-up finish was completed by junior Matt Goen, who lost the tiebreaker playoff to qualify as he had also finished 14-over, tied for 15th after 18 holes. Senior Isaac Knox shot 17-over for 17th place and Sawyer Ilg came in at 19-over, tied for 34th.
The Belmont Red Raiders (+68) wrapped up their season in sixth place at Indian Mound, the same spot they finished the regular season in.
Belmont’s Maxwell Ryder fell in the qualifier tie-breaker after finishing 14-over, tied for 15th through 18 holes. Junior Alex Rowley finished second for Belmont with 86 strokes (+16); captain Jordan DeFrancesco was 18-over; and seniors Jacob Akerstrom and Ben Girard shot 20-over and 25-over, respectively.
“Your Red Raider golf team fought valiantly on a tricky course with super-fast greens but couldn’t keep pace with favorite Bishop Brady and Kearsarge,” Belmont Head Coach John Mattes wrote in his regular golf update round-up.
There was, however, one other local individual boys’ qualifier to emerge from Thursday’s Division III action. Hillsboro-Deering junior Cooper Gelinas, one of only two golfers on the course for the Hillcats, finished tied for fourth at 8-over par.
Saturday’s individual championship will take place at Beaver Meadow, beginning at 7 a.m. It’s a home course for Bishop Brady’s qualifiers, so they’re all aiming to outperform themselves and finish strong.
“I’ve played some good rounds there in the last few days, a few practice rounds. Just looking forward to it,” Connor said ahead of Saturday.
Hillsboro-Deering junior Cooper Gelinas has emerged as a top talent in Division III after finishing tied for fourth place at 8-over-par and qualifying for the boys’ individual tournament. Credit: JOSHUA SPAULDING / Salmon Press 
Kearsarge senior Sawyer Ilg scored for the Cougars in their runner-up day at the Division III coed golf championships at Indian Mound. Credit: JOSHUA SPAULDING / Salmon Press 
Kearsarge senior Isaac Knox tied for 17th in the Division III team golf championship with 17 strokes over par at Indian Mound. Credit: JOSHUA SPAULDING / Salmon Press
Division IV
Five of Hopkinton’s top six golfers had won matches this year — junior Chet Behner was the only one missing. On state championship day, he made every stroke count.
Behner finished fourth place with three birdies on the front nine and one near-miss eagle on a chip to lead the Hawks on the leaderboard at 10-over par.
Hopkinton’s run to the championship was all about team effort. The Hawks finished with 238 strokes, four ahead of runner-up Mascenic, to secure the team title.
“I think our team had, our team probably played some of the best golf this year, but we also had the most fun,” said Hopkinton Head Coach Ted Wells. “That might be our secret sauce, is pretty loose. Loose, goofy and happy golfers most days, but each of them keeps their heads on straight and keeps the balls going mostly straight.”
Despite not having a golfer medal at the top, the team came in clutch overall. Junior Aidan Clay and seniors Coley Wells and Devin Allen all finished tied for ninth place together, 14 strokes over par.
Beckett St. Cyr also qualified for Hopkinton despite not scoring at 15-over par, good enough to finish 14th place.
The Hopkinton coed golf team won the Division IV title on Thursday, Oct. 15 at Pease Golf Course. Credit: TED WELLS / Courtesy 
The Hopkinton golf team was characterized by its loose and happy attitude this season, exemplified best by taking a silly photo after winning the Division IV title. Credit: TED WELLS / Courtesy