Jack Ter Doest made the turn at 7 over.
The Hopkins Academy junior golfer kept thinking he needed to make pars to keep his score there at the MIAA Division 3 state tournament Tuesday at Shining Rock Golf Club in Northbridge.
He surprised himself by making birdie on his next two holes, two of four on the back nine where he shot a 37.
“It took me some time to warm up, but once I got there I was making some birdies, some good putts,” Ter Doest said. “That course was tough. It took my full concentration to shoot what I shot.”
He had a 46 on the front nine to shoot an 11-over 83, which tied him for 23rd.
Weston won the team title at 320, while Austin Prep’s Nick Hampoian was the individual state champion with a 71.
Hopkins shot a 379, which put the Golden Hawks 11th in the 12-team field.
But the one team they were in front of was Pioneer Regional, which made all the difference. The Panthers shot a 392.
“We beat Pioneer in Western Mass., and we beat them again in states, so we proved that again,” Hopkins senior Caleb Farnham said.
Farnham, the individual Western Mass. champion, shot an 87.
“He said putts wouldn’t fall for him,” Hopkins coach Mark Krodel said. “He left maybe eight shots out there.”
Despite the tough day on an unfamiliar course, Farnham went out in style. He drained a 25-foot putt for par on the last hole of his high school career.
“He’s the best student athlete I’ve come across for his discipline, his work ethic, his leadership. He’s a nice young man,” Krodel said. “It’s time for him to move on, go to college, have some fun. He’ll always play golf. And if he ever needs a fourth guy for a scramble, I’ll be available.”
Farnham might have played his final round, but the other five Golden Hawks return in 2017.
Liam Higgins shot a 100, Kishan Patel a 109, Alvin Li a 115 and Jordan Jekawnowski a 121.
“Jack’s coming back next year, he’ll be the leader of the team. I don’t want to jinx him, but there’s no reason he’s not shooting 37, 38 every match. At tournaments like PVIAC he should be contending for the medalist,” Krodel said. “It’s amazing what a difference a year of maturity makes. I’m optimistic for next year.”
Kyle Grabowski can be reached at kgrabowski@gazettenet.com.