GREAT BARRINGTON — For the third time in as many years, Caleb Farnham is going to the state Division 3 golf tournament.
This time, he will be joined by his Hopkins Academy teammates after the Golden Hawks captured the Western Massachusetts Division 3 championship Tuesday at Wyantenuck Country Club.
Farnham captured medalist honors with a 79 and teammate Jack Ter Doest turned in an 80 for second place. Hopkins won with 348 points, two better than runner-up Pioneer Valley.
“Caleb’s our best player and we all look up to him,” Ter Doest said. “We know he’s going to perform when we need it most. He has a lot of energy and we like to feed off it.”
Up next is the state tournament in Northbridge.
“This is my first time going to states and it’s great to be going as a team,” Ter Doest said.
Hopkins, which last won the sectional title in 2013, went 14-2 and won the Bi-County East.
Liam Higgins had a 90 and Kishan Patel shot 99 to aid the run to the Western Mass. title.
Farnham, Ter Doest and Lee’s Thomas Frasier (80) were the only players to shoot 80 or better.
“We were competitive and a lot of it has to do with our team chemistry,” Farnham said. “I really wanted my team to go to states because I hadn’t been on a team that went to states since my freshman year.”
It wasn’t easy. The wind was a factor and had a definite impact on the day’s scores.
But Hopkins was ready for the challenge.
“This was the same weather we had all week at Hickory Ridge,” first-year coach Mark Krodel said. “The bad weather we’ve had actually worked to our advantage thanks to good preparation on the kids’ part.”
The wind did factor into Ter Doest’s score.
“My drives were going a little bit shorter,” Ter Doest said. “On some holes, the ball would go up and come down immediately. I just played around it.”
Farnham, who said his goal was to break 80, was the only player in the nine-team field to do so.
“I’m very happy with my score,” Farnham said. “These were tough conditions and this was all I could ask for.”
Farnham, whose best 9-hole round this season was a 35, had his own way of dealing with the wind.
“The way my swing is set up, I hit the ball high,” he said. “I had to really adapt my game today.”
It worked.
“I had to club up, two or three in some cases,” Farnham said. “I made it work and I was able to drain putts all day.”
This was the sixth and final appearance at the sectional tournament for Farnham.
“I didn’t feel any pressure,” he said. “I just went out there and wanted to have a good score.”
He’s come a long way since his freshman year when he shot a 99 at the tournament at Berkshire Hills.
Now it’s on to the state tournament for Hopkins.
“It’s a whole other dynamic when you go with your team,” Farnham said. “When you go with your team you are able to feed off their energy.”
Jordan Jekanowski (111) and Alvin Li (119) also played for Hopkins but did not factor into the scoring.
Smith Academy finished seventh with 379 points. Daniel Cavanaugh led the Falcons with a 91. Carter Woodward (93), Cam Haley (95) and Finn O’Connor (100) also scored. Chris Darragh (105) and Hunter Zygmont (109) also played.
“I just tried to keep the ball under the wind,” Cavanaugh said. “I’m pretty proud of this team.”
Granby finished ninth with 383 points. Dominic Rosazza led the Rams with a 91. EJ Wiley (93), Tom Rezzani (97) and Tyler Sullivan (102) contributed. Jake White (108) and Corey Parlengas (115) round out the Rams’ roster.
“Our kids battled through the conditions and they all left with a smile on their face,” Granby coach Matt Stenius said.