High school golf: Reilly Fowles, Northampton open 2024 season with victory over Amherst (PHOTOS)

Northampton’s Reilly Fowles tees off on the eighth hole during the Blue Devils’ golf match with Amherst at Amherst Golf Club on Thursday afternoon.

Northampton’s Reilly Fowles tees off on the eighth hole during the Blue Devils’ golf match with Amherst at Amherst Golf Club on Thursday afternoon. STAFF PHOTO/GARRETT COTE

Amherst’s Ben Scott drains a putt for par on the seventh hole during the Hurricanes’ golf match with Northampton at Amherst Golf Club on Thursday.

Amherst’s Ben Scott drains a putt for par on the seventh hole during the Hurricanes’ golf match with Northampton at Amherst Golf Club on Thursday. STAFF PHOTO/GARRETT COTE

Northampton’s Jamie Fowler watches his shot hit the fairway on the eighth hole during the Blue Devils’ golf match with Amherst at Amherst Golf Club on Thursday afternoon.

Northampton’s Jamie Fowler watches his shot hit the fairway on the eighth hole during the Blue Devils’ golf match with Amherst at Amherst Golf Club on Thursday afternoon. STAFF PHOTO/GARRETT COTE

Amherst’s Phineas Pyecroft hits his approach shot up to the fifth green during the Hurricanes’ golf match with Northampton at Amherst Golf Club on Thursday afternoon.

Amherst’s Phineas Pyecroft hits his approach shot up to the fifth green during the Hurricanes’ golf match with Northampton at Amherst Golf Club on Thursday afternoon. STAFF PHOTO/GARRETT COTE

Northampton’s Brett Baranowski rips a driver down the sixth hole during the Blue Devils’ golf match with Amherst at Amherst Golf Club on Thursday afternoon.

Northampton’s Brett Baranowski rips a driver down the sixth hole during the Blue Devils’ golf match with Amherst at Amherst Golf Club on Thursday afternoon. STAFF PHOTO/GARRETT COTE

Northampton’s Reilly Fowles putts for eagle on the seventh green during the Blue Devils’ golf match with Amherst at Amherst Golf Club on Thursday afternoon.

Northampton’s Reilly Fowles putts for eagle on the seventh green during the Blue Devils’ golf match with Amherst at Amherst Golf Club on Thursday afternoon. STAFF PHOTO/GARRETT COTE

Northampton’s Keller Mahoney tees off on the sixth hole with teammate Jack Carpenter watching closely during the Blue Devils’ golf match with Amherst at Amherst Golf Club on Thursday afternoon.

Northampton’s Keller Mahoney tees off on the sixth hole with teammate Jack Carpenter watching closely during the Blue Devils’ golf match with Amherst at Amherst Golf Club on Thursday afternoon. STAFF PHOTO/GARRETT COTE

Amherst’s Nate Ziomek strikes an iron from the fairway of the par-5 seventh hole during the Hurricanes’ golf match with Northampton at Amherst Golf Club on Thursday afternoon.

Amherst’s Nate Ziomek strikes an iron from the fairway of the par-5 seventh hole during the Hurricanes’ golf match with Northampton at Amherst Golf Club on Thursday afternoon. STAFF PHOTO/GARRETT COTE

Amherst’s Nate Ziomek hits an iron off the tee of the eighth hole during the Hurricanes’ golf match with Northampton at Amherst Golf Club on Thursday afternoon.

Amherst’s Nate Ziomek hits an iron off the tee of the eighth hole during the Hurricanes’ golf match with Northampton at Amherst Golf Club on Thursday afternoon. STAFF PHOTO/GARRETT COTE

Amherst’s Graham Von Geissen watches his tee shot on the sixth hole during the Hurricanes’ golf match with Northampton at Amherst Golf Club on Thursday afternoon.

Amherst’s Graham Von Geissen watches his tee shot on the sixth hole during the Hurricanes’ golf match with Northampton at Amherst Golf Club on Thursday afternoon. STAFF PHOTO/GARRETT COTE

By GARRETT COTE

Staff Writer

Published: 08-29-2024 8:06 PM

Modified: 08-29-2024 8:46 PM

AMHERST — The 2024 golf season began with the classic Battle of the Bridge on Thursday afternoon at Amherst Golf Club. Following a flawless 16-0 regular season in 2023, Northampton High School picked up right where it left off – behind the smooth swing of senior captain Reilly Fowles.

Fowles fired a 2-under-par round of 33 to earn medalist honors, six shots better than the next best finisher. His birdie on the seventh hole – where he narrowly missed a putt for eagle – helped him finish strong and propel the Blue Devils to a 175-202 win over the Hurricanes.

Behind Fowles was Amherst’s Ben Scott, who turned in a strong sub-40 round of 4-over (39) on the par 35 course located next to Amherst College. Northampton’s Reed O’Connor and Keller Mahoney carded 46s, as did ‘Canes senior Nate Ziomek.

Brett Baranowski and Aiden Keeling-Lococo rounded out the Blue Devils’ scoring on Thursday, both shooting rounds of 48. Phineas Pyecroft (56) and Callum Bohne (61) grabbed the third and fourth scores for Amherst in the loss.

Thursday marked the first of two meetings between the rival schools, the next coming at Northampton Country Club on Sept. 16.

Hampshire 162, Frontier 163 – It was about as close as it could get between the Frontier and Hampshire golf teams on Thursday at Cherry Hill in Amherst. 

Frontier’s Ryan Cetto was the match medalist with a 37, helping Frontier secure a team score of 163. The Raiders — behind scores of 40 from Brayden Fennessey and Colby Cabrini — came in just below however, with Hampshire pulling out a 162-163 victory. 

Fennessey and Cabrini both carded 40s for Hampshire, which rode a balanced effort with six golfers shooting between 40 and 42. Riley Florek, Ashton Lashway and Cole Boissoneault all turned in rounds of 41 in the victory.

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Brady Wood shot a 40 and Cam Skiffington carded a 41 for the Redhawks. 

Belchertown 153, South Hadley 167 — Three rounds below 40 were plenty enough to push the Orioles past the Tigers at Cold Spring Country Club on Thursday afternoon.

Michael Murray – who enjoyed a successful summer playing in big tournaments across the state – and Jared Haynes both posted strong rounds of 37 to lead Belchertown, and Brady Jolly was close behind with a solid round of 38. Daniel Hulmes rounded out the Orioles’ scoring with a 41.

South Hadley’s Ryan MacGregor followed up Wednesday’s 37 at Ledges with an even-par 36 at Cold Spring, continuing his hot start to the fall with another medalist performance. Jameson Webber (43), Caiden Drohan (44) and Matthew Blaser (44) all put together rounds under 45 in what was a good showing for the Tigers in defeat.

Late Wednesday results

Golf

South Hadley 168, Mohawk Trail 175 — Ryan MacGregor blazed around Ledges Golf Club on Wednesday, carding a 1-over round of 37 to earn medalist honors by four strokes in the Tigers’ win to start their season.

Caiden Drohan (42), Matthew Blaser (44) and Liam Yates (45) were the other three scorers for South Hadley with strong rounds of 45 or better, while Phineas Tuttman and Logan Moore each turned in a 41 to pace visiting Mohawk Trail in the loss.