High school golfers in western Massachusetts will have the opportunity to compete for a championship this Saturday.
The Country Club of Greenfield and head pro Kevin Piecuch are hosting the Western Mass. High School Invitational. The 18-hole stroke play tournament starts at 10:30 a.m. with tee times every 9 minutes.
The Massachusetts Interscholastic Athletic Association canceled all fall postseason tournament due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The MIAA, however, left open the possibility for regions to hold tournaments. The MIAA is not sanctioning any tournaments though.
“We’re just trying to get a little normalcy for the kids,” Piecuch told the Greenfield Recorder. “The club is offering the venue at no charge, and I was willing to run the event.”
Players need to follow several health and safety protocols:
■Do not play if you feel sick or have been in contact with someone who has tested positive for COVID-19 in the last two weeks.
■Stay at least 6 feet away from anyone at all times.
■Do not touch or handle any event supplies or equipment that is not yours.
■Players are not to arrive to the golf course more than 45 minutes prior to their scheduled starting time. If a player arrives to the golf course prior to this time, they are to remain in their car.
■Players are expected to provide their own PPE and other sanitizing materials. Masks should be worn at all times when proper social distancing cannot be practiced, while using all practice area, putting green and/or when in any indoor spaces.
Players are allowed on practice areas within 45 minutes of their tee time. It is suggested that players begin with the practice range, then to the practice putting green for the remainder of time before reporting to the tee.
Available space on the practice range may be limited. In general, the only players permitted on the practice putting green should be the next two starting times to play.
While using the practice facilities, competitors must follow social distancing protocols and must use a mask or face covering.
Players needed at least a 40 scoring average over 9 holes to be eligible to play.
The following local players are scheduled to compete:
Northampton’s Galen Fowles (10:30 a.m.); Belchertown’s Ryan O’Neill (10:39 a.m.), Riley Breen (10:57 a.m.) and Brady Perkins (11:06 a.m.); Amherst Regional’s Piet Hartman (10:57 a.m.); Frontier Regional’s Mikey Corduff (11:15 a.m.), Kyle Maynard (11:33 a.m.) and Gunnar Moore (11:42 a.m.); Easthampton’s Tyler Cortis (11:24 a.m.); Hampshire Regional’s Levi Zielinski (11:33 a.m.); Hopkins Academy’s Connor Asselin (11:51 a.m.); and Pope Francis’ Jaelyn Deboise (11:06 a.m.), Ben Zaranek (11:15 a.m.) and Ryan Leonard (11:42 a.m.).
South Hadley 182, Pathfinder 207 — Nick Hartley earned medalist honors with a 43 as the Tigers won at The Ledges Golf Course.
Ben Gardiner (45), Keegan Earle (46) and Sean Whalen (48) closed out the victory.
Northampton 159, West Springfield 178 — Fowles shot even-par 36 at Springfield Country Club and Camille Richmond followed with a 2-over 38 as the Blue Devils (7-1) rolled on the road.
Evan Yurko (42) and Ben O’Connor (43) filled out the top four for Hamp.
Frontier Regional 146, Hopkins Academy 177 — Corduff carded a 2-under 33, Brady Burch was 1-over and Maynard was 2-over as the Red Hawks shot past the Golden Hawks at Cherry Hill Golf Course in Amherst.
Rowan Blair closed out the win with a 40.
Asselin (41), Jake Smith (42), Taylor Barry (43) and Cody West (51) scored for Hopkins.
