From rags to riches
Shaker Hills Country Club holds High School Golf Championship after MIAA cancels state championship for golf
Tommy Cassell
@tommycassell44
HARVARD — As Liam Gill strolled up the 15th fairway at Shaker Hills Country Club Sunday afternoon, he devoured a birthday-cake flavored protein bar.
"My mom threw it in my bag," Gill said.
The Wayland High senior golfer hoped the tasty treat was a good omen for a later celebration as he competed in the inaugural Massachusetts High School Golf Championship.
Gill didn't get a chance to celebrate first place, however, as he shot an even-par 72 to finish in third behind Shepherd Hill's Dan Brooks (70) and Central Catholic's Josh Lavallee (71).
Yet despite not claiming the championship – in an event that allowed high school golfers across all three divisions to compete amid the ongoing coronavirus pandemic – Gill won't soon forget Sunday's tournament.
"It was super surreal. This last event is going to be one I'll definitely remember," Gill said. "This year, 72 wasn't enough. But it was a thrill to represent my town and my high school one last time."
After Shaker Hills owner Fred Curtis found out the Massachusetts Interscholastic Athletic Association (MIAA) eliminated sectional and state championships for golf, the father of two high school golfers devised a plan. He teamed up with the National High School Golf Association (NHSGA) and other organizations to help run a tournament that featured 104 high school golfers at his picturesque course in Harvard.
On Sunday, golfers – with handicaps below eight or a scoring average of under 40 for nine holes – started their rounds by either teeing up from the first or 10th hole in an 18-hole, stroke-play competition.
"Super fun to play with an unbelievably talented field," Holliston High senior Louie Denison said. "NHSGA went above and beyond to make up for losing MIAA playoffs in a tough senior year."
"It was great to go out there and compete with some of the best junior golfers in New England," Wayland High senior Jimmy Paugh said.
Paugh, who shot an 80, and Denison, 82, both worked at Sandy Burr Country Club in Wayland this summer. The two golfers, along with Wayland High senior Joe Tardif (79), who also worked at Sandy Burr, played roughly 40 rounds together this summer.
"It was nice to end the season on the same course as them. … I'm glad to at least beat Lou," Paugh said.
A maximum of two spectators per player were allowed to watch the event. Parents and coaches found nooks around the course to follow the action while social distancing.
On the par-5 18th hole, Paugh's father, Jim, watched as his son mulled over a shot from the rough. Ultimately, the younger Paugh decided to lay up – much to the approval of his father.
"That's what you wanted to do," said Jim after the successful shot from his son.
"That's just boring," Jimmy said.
VIDEO: Watch as Wayland's Jimmy Paugh hits an approach shot into No. 18
At the 13th hole, Weston Jones told his father, Earl, to climb up a steep hill in order to watch Jones' tee shot from the scenic downhill par-3.
"I didn't know I needed hiking boots," Earl said after the climb.
Jones, a Lincoln-Sudbury senior, played in a group that featured Gill, Patrick Kilcoyne and Ethan Whitney. He proceeded to hit his iron shot onto the green at No. 13.
Jones' birdie putt, however, rolled a few feet past the cup.
"Hit a house," Jones' father said about the putt that needed to slow down as it sped by the hole. "That's going to be some cleanup there."
Jones finished the hole with a bogey and his round at 4-over par, which was good enough to tie for 17th place. Although the defending Division 1 individual champion didn't take home the top prize again this fall, the Rutgers University commit soaked up his final moments of high school golf.
"Can't believe it's all over," Jones said. "We got so lucky with a sunny, 70-degree day and to be playing with my guys was amazing. Great day in general despite playing poorly (and) … it's always really special when (my dad) comes and watches."
Denison's parents, Sue and Mark, drove around in a golf cart to watch their son compete. Denison had a topsy-turvy round that featured eight bogeys, four birdies, three double bogeys and three pars.
"Schizophrenic is the term," said Denison.
"We love watching him play golf," said his mother.
VIDEO: Watch some of the action from the High School Golf Championship
Once all the golfers completed their rounds and all the scorecards were collected, the NHSGA announced the top-10 (13 due to a tiebreaker) players who qualified for the High School Golf National Invitational, which is held every summer at the historic Pinehurst (N.C.) Resort.
Before returning home to Sudbury, Jones went over to Curtis to thank the Shaker Hills Country Club owner for hosting the event.
Gill, who received a Shaker Hills flag for finishing in the top 10, also wanted to share his appreciation to Curtis.
"I can't thank him enough," Gill said. "With everything that's been going on, it was just good to play at Shaker Hills."
"I think it's a rags to riches story," Curtis said. "First, the kids have nothing and then they ended up with a historical championship for the first time in Massachusetts history (as we) had all three divisions in one championship.
"So I think that was extra special."
VIDEO: Business was boomin' for Wayland's Liam Gill on Sunday
Tommy Cassell is a senior multimedia journalist for the Daily News. He can be reached at tcassell@wickedlocal.com. Follow him on Twitter @tommycassell44.
Notable performances from some local golfers
T3: Liam Gill (72)
T17: Jared Drew (76)
T17: Weston Jones(76)
T26: Ryan Lundy (77)
T26: Reed Bodley (77)
T26: Colby Sanville(77)
T39: Ryan Whitehead (79)
T39: Joe Tardif (79)