GREAT BARRINGTON - Hopkins Academy didn't have its best player. Smith Academy didn't have its best day.

The Golden Hawks and the Falcons, the first- and second-place teams at the Western Massachusetts Division 3 Golf Tournament Oct. 26, didn't stand a chance at the state tournament on Monday.

Hopkins scored 344 and finished 14th out of 15 teams at Wyantenuck Country Club. Smith Academy finished last at 364. But even on their best days, the teams from Hadley and Hatfield would have been hard pressed to match the field at the state championship.

"You don't get this opportunity very often and it was all about coming out, having fun and playing your best," Smith Academy coach David Keir said. "We had a lot of fun."

Wayland took the team title as its best four scorers totaled 298. Holliston placed second at 304 and Bishop Stang was third at 308.

Those three scores could easily match up with the best scores in the other divisions.

"We got some great players in this division," Keir said. "Crazy scores for teams. You compare what we did today with the Division 1 and 2 results, we'll stack up with them."

Of the 111 players, 39 broke 80. The course average was 83.2.

Joe Cooper of Wayland earned medalist honors with a 3-under 67. Brandon Surtevant of Pembroke was second at 1-under. They were the only two players under par at the par-70, 6,056-yard course.

"It was a great field," Hopkins coach Rick Berger said. "I think our kids played well, all things considered."

Hopkins lost three-time sectional champ Sean Gaudette after three holes. The senior from South Hadley was 1-over-par at the time but withdrew because he was ill. Gaudette entered the round under the weather and did not improve.

"The kids felt bad for Sean but Sean felt bad for the kids," Berger said. "He said to me, "Tell the guys I said sorry.' "

Teammate Dan Sullivan played in the group ahead of Gaudette. Sullivan, who is also from South Hadley, has known Gaudette since the first grade.

"Sean's always a tough competitor," Sullivan said. "I saw him this morning and he hit the ball well when we went to the range. When I was on four he was walking up to the third green and I could tell he wasn't feeling well at all."

Sullivan tried to carry the load for the Golden Hawks and finished in a seven-way tie for 24th with an 8-over 78. The senior was 2-over after holes but a double bogey at the par-4 10th set him back.

"It's a short par four," Sullivan said. "I originally came in thinking I was going to hit 4-iron off the tee but I hit driver because I was hitting it well. I blocked it a bit and had a 40-yard bunker shot. I left it short and made six."

Sullivan didn't let the mishap get to him as he finished the final nine holes in 4-over, with nine pars and one birdie.

"I didn't think about it at all - I just kept playing," Sullivan said. "I knew I had to hit some more good shots."

Kevin Serio of Hopkins fired an 86 and Thomas Hutchings had an 87.

Billy O'Neil had a 93 to round out the Golden Hawks' top four. Russell Omer carded a 100 for Hopkins.

"We had a good season," Sullivan. "We won league, won western Mass. - and made it to states."

Smith placed second at western Mass. because its top four players shot their best rounds of the year. That didn't happen at Wyantenuck, but the Falcons enjoyed the experience nonetheless.

"Some days you have it and some days you don't," Keir said.

Dowd led Smith with an 85. Anthony Afflitto shot an 88, while Sulda had an 89. Nick Fitzgerald was fourth at 102. J.T. Saltis (105) and Tyler Samson (107) also played for Smith Academy.

At the sectional tournament last week, Sulda (77) and Dowd (79) broke 80 while Afflitto was third at 83.

"Everyone played well that day," said Sulda, a junior. "Me and Aaron broke 80 and that set us on the right track. No one expected us to go anywhere. We had the same mind-set going into today - we just couldn't pull it off."

Sulda could not avoid big numbers Monday. A triple bogey on the par-3 second put him at 5-over after three holes. Sulda also had a triple on the par-3 11th and a quadruple bogey on the par-5 13th. Otherwise Sulda had seven pars.

"Bad scores, but we can't complain," Sulda said. "We got this far."

This was Smith Academy's second trip to the state Division 3 tournament in the last three years.

"Nick (Sulda) and Aaron both played two years ago when we won western Mass.," Keir said. "J.T., Tyler, Nick (Fitzgerald), Anthony - this was their first time coming. I got five juniors coming back next year as seniors and this will be a great experience for them.'