BG third in Class L
GOFFSTOWN – Last fall Salem High School won its first golf championship in school history. Thursday at Stonebridge Country Club, they proved it wasn’t a fluke.
The Blue Devils made it back to back titles, edging previously unbeaten Pinkerton Academy by three strokes, 320-323. Under a new format used for the first time in New Hampshire this fall, the 18-hole scores of the top four golfers on each six-man team counted toward the team title.
Bishop Guertin finished just seven off the pace at 327 with three sophomores among the top four. Leading the way was Nick Fairweather of Windham, whose 77 was tied for the second best score of the day.
Fairweather played a key role in Salem’s title run last year as a freshman before transferring to Bishop Guertin this fall.
“I still have a lot of friends on the Salem team,’’ Fairweather said, “so if we couldn’t win I’m happy for them.’’ Fairweather and two of his teammates will be back at Stonebridge on Saturday for the final round of the 36-hole NHIAA individual championship. He finished fourth last year as a freshman.
He’ll go into Saturday two strokes behind Dan Kish of Pinkerton, who posted a 75 on Thursday for the best round of the day. The conditions were cool and windy, with the scheduled 8:30 shotgun start delayed 45 minutes by frost.
Five other local golfers made the cut (84 and ties) to get invited back. Just four off the pace with 79s were Pat Paulson of Merrimack and Tyler McAfee of Nashua North. Alvirne’s Will Livingston qualified with an 82. Bishop Guertin sophomore Joe Bouchard (81) and junior Tyler Dejadon (84) were also invited back.
Sophomore Caleb Mitchell, who shot an 85, rounded out the Bishop Guertin team scoring. Other local scores included 87s by Merrimack’s Chris Kinney and Bishop Guertin’s Sam Howe.
The Cardinals were the only local school to qualify for the team title, and finished ahead of Keen (331), Exeter (337), Spaulding of Rochester (338), Manchester Memorial (338), Timberlane Regional of Plaistow (338), Dover (340) and Manchester Central (354).
CLASS I
Bedford captured the Class I title, the first in school history, with Jake Nutter leading the field with a 73 at White Mountain Country Club in Ashland.
Bedford had a four player total of 304, beating second place Oyster River of Durham by eight strokes. Rounding out the top five were Hanover (316), Bow (317) and Lebanon (317).
Hollis/Brookline finished sixth at 319, led by Derek Bruinooge (76) and Ryan McGrath, who both qualified to come back Saturday for the second round of the individual championship.
Rounding out the Cavaliers scoring was Griffin Brown with an 82 and Brad Stowell with an 83.
Milford’s two individual golfers, Kevin Lam and Jeff Asselin shot 80 and 89, respectively.
CLASS M-S
Mascenic Regional won its third straight Class M-S team championship on Thursday, besting runner-up Gilford 311-318.
Rounding out the top five were third-place Moultonborough (333), fourth-place Littleton (355) and fifth-place Conant (365).
The only local team in the mix was Campbell. The Cougars finished in 12th with a 394.
