AGAWAM — Belchertown senior Ryan Chrabascz teed off with a 9-iron on the 14th hole at Crestview Country Club.
Under normal conditions he reaches the green and lines up a birdie putt on the 139-yard par 3.
Conditions veered wildly from normal Monday at the Western Massachusetts Division 2 Golf Championships.
Winds gusted between 25 and 40 mph depending on who played amateur meteorologist.
Temperatures started in the 40s at the beginning of the round and climbed above 50 degrees by the time the scores were carded.
Chrabascz’s shot fell 20 yards short of the green into a bunker.
“I thought it was right at it, but it came up way short,” Chrabascz said. “It was an easy par 3. It should have been easy par.”
Chrabascz, the defending individual champion, made bogey on the hole.
Belchertown managed those “should have” moments best, shooting a 348 to win the team title.
“Last year they didn’t have much confidence. They didn’t think they could win,” Belchertown coach Dave Wright said. “This year they had a lot of confidence saying, ‘we can do this.’ Because they finished second last year.”
That motivated them to win this year.
“Getting that experience last year matured us in a way,” Belchertown senior Frankie Murray said.
Southwick was second at 354. Both teams qualify for the state tournament Monday at Black Swan Country Club in Georgetown.
Chrabascz led Belchertown with an 85, which would have qualified him for states as an individual.
Murray and Jonathan Betcha shot 87s, while Justin Bourque rounded out Belchertown’s scoring with an 89. Aidan Dupont (96) and Dave Fredenburgh (105) also played for the Orioles.
“They thought their scores were high, but when I did see them I tried to encourage them saying, ‘it’s tough out here, scores are going to be a little higher today,’” Wright said. “Try to keep pushing along and finish strong.”
Pathfinder’s Joe Conkey took the individual medalist honor with an 82.
Frontier Regional eighth-grader Mikey Corduff finished right behind him with an 83 to also qualify for states.
“I just stick to my game plan and what I wanted to do for today — my chipping and putting — getting it up there close and then making the putt,” Corduff said.
It was his second time at the Western Mass. tournament. He played last year with the Red Hawks’ five seniors.
“I learned off them,” he said.
Corduff plans to stick with his game plan when he plays Black Swan.
“It’s going to be long, and I’m not the longest person in the world, so I can just chip up and make the putt,” he said.
Frontier shot a 394 to finish sixth. Bryan Baumann (101), Kyle Spencer (102) and Kalen Evans (108) factored into the team score. Scott Pelis (109) and Rowan Blair (113) also played.
Hampshire Regional was ninth at 429 behind Garrett Antosz (92), Ryan Egloff (111), William Lafosse (112) and Makenze Felty (114). Paige Sullivan (118) and Evan Boyle (120) also played.
“It played long today. The greens were tricky today. We gave it a good effort. This is the first time for all but one of them competing at the Western Mass. tournament, so it will be a good experience for them,” Hampshire coach Dan Kropita said.
Belchertown proved the value of that.
Kyle Grabowski can be reached at kgrabowski@gazettenet.com.