RallyNorth.net

Andover golfers surge to state

Behind red-hot Eric Hooker's medalist 72 score, Andover's golf team tied Newton South for first with a 307 at the Division 1 North tournament at the Beverly Country Club.

In one of the closest competitions in recent memory, both St. John's Prep and Central Catholic finished just one shot away from qualifying, both shooting a 310.

Joining Hooker as an individual qualifier for the Warriors was Sean Burke, who tied for second with St. John's Prep freshman Nick Maccario of Bradford at 73. Jeff Kublin shot a 79 for Andover.

Other individual qualifiers included Central Catholic's Jake Hajec and freshman Joe Leavitt, both of whom checked in with fine 74s. St. John's Nick Pandelina of Atkinson, N.H. had a 77 and Central's Jeff Sheehy recorded a 78.

Haverhill finished eighth in the 13-team field with a 330.

The top three teams and individual qualifiers will vie at the state meet next Monday at Brrokmeadow Golf Club in Canton.

In the Division 2 North at Far Corner, North Andover's Dan Daley qualified for state as an individual after shooting a 77. The Knights came in seventh as a team.