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Knights win D2 North title; Atkinson star wins D1

BOXFORD — Something unexpected happened at the Division 2 North Sectional golf tournament at the Far Corner Golf Course.
North Andover delivered its first sectional crown since Ted Pritchard's 1987 team.
The Knights finished with a first-place score of 326, three shots ahead of runner-up Lincoln-Sudbury and four ahead of Beverly. They were the only qualifiers in the 19-school field. Reading and Masco tied for fourth at 334.
Leading the way for the Knights was senior Ross Boyle, who fired a 78 as the medalist under cold and windy conditions. Twin brother John was next at 80 while Alec Brown and Nick DePace both shot 84s.
“It was very tough out there, but I felt I had a good day,” said Ross. “We’re really excited about the team. We always knew we had depth but we didn’t think we’d win it. It was a pleasant surprise.”
The fact that the Knights finished ahead of Masconomet was icing on the cake.
“They really killed us in the dual meet, so beating them today made it (the title) a lot better,” said Ross.
North Andover will compete in the Division 2 state final Oct. 26 at Pocasset Golf Club.
Complete Eagle-Tribune records go back through 1991 and the Knights’ best finishes were second places in 2006 (16 strokes behind Lincoln-Sudbury) and 1992 (1 stroke behind Winchester).

 Atkinson's Pandalena victorious

BEVERLY — The shotgun start with players spread all over the course didn’t lend itself to scoreboard-watching.
“I always try to keep my eye on (Central’s Joe Leavitt), though,” admitted friend and rival Nick Pandalena of Atkinson and St. John’s Prep.
Yesterday at Beverly Tennis and Golf Club all eyes were on the Prep’s Pandalena, who dominated the Division 1 North field with a sizzling one-over par round of 71 to capture the individual championship.
Pandalena, who was 3-under par through 11, was two shots better than his nearest competitor, setting the tone for a dominating performance by the Prep.
Disappointed about relinquishing the Catholic Conference title to BC High, the Eagles took it out on the opposition with a four-score total of 71-74-75-77—297, 13 shots better than Central Catholic.
For Pandalena, it was a big day at just the right time.
“The last two years, our team hasn’t done well at sectionals,” he said of the sixth-place finish last year and fourth-place finish in 2008. “We haven’t had the chance to play for a state title.”
With the wind up yesterday, especially in the morning, Pandalena played his game from the first swing.
“The conditions were tough, but I don’t mind the cold,” said Pandalena, who has playing in all kinds of weather in junior golf.
Perhaps, that’s the hockey player him. Pandalena has played two seasons on the powerhouse Prep varsity hockey team as well.
On most summer days, though, you’ll find him on the course or the range at Atkinson Country Club, most of the time matching strokes with Leavitt.
“It’s a good rivalry, we’re good friends,” said Pandalena, who once played youth baseball on the same team with the Central standout. “I think competing against him and playing with him makes us better.”
Yesterday was clearly Pandalena’s day to shine, though, as Leavitt struggled but was among the final group to qualify for Division 1 states with a 77.
That’s at Longmeadow Country Club next Tuesday.
 
Hillies’ Lupi ties for third
Haverhill coach Kevin Murphy set a goal of 320 for his team, and the youthful Hillies delivered. Led by Ernie Lupi’s sizzling 74 and a sweet 77 from sophomore Scott Farley, the Hillies landed right on the number and finished tied for 6th among the 21 teams.
“We haven’t had a lot of success at this level in a long time, so this was a strong day for us,” said Murphy.
Greenleaf delivers
Watch out for promising Central freshman Connor Greenleaf of Windham. He carded a superb 77 yesterday, helping the Raiders to the runner-up effort.
The Raiders were balanced with Greenleaf and Joe Leavitt knotted at 77 and Kevin Fay and Kevin Desjardins scoring 78s.
Leavitt was not happy as he walked off the 18th green. The favorite in the event, he reached the front of the final green in two, only to chip past then three-putt for a double-bogey six.
“I felt some nerves out there,” he admitted. “I thought it cost me states.”
Luckily, Leavitt survived and now gets to fight for the top prize.
“That’s really the one goal I had today,” he said. “As long as I got in and the team made it, I was fine with that.”
Don’t overlook the Raiders when it comes to challenging for the team prize, too.
“I definitely think we can,” he said.
 
 
Division 1 North Golf
At Beverly Golf and Tennis Club (par 70)
Team scores (top 4 of 21 advance to Division 1 states): 1. St. John’s Prep 297; 2. Central Catholic 310; 3. Billerica 316; 4. Wayland 318, 5. Concord-Carlisle 320, 6. Andover 320, 7. Lowell 320, 8. Haverhill 320; no other local teams
Indivividual (top 13 plus ties advance to Division 1 states): 1. Nick Pandalena (SJP) 71; 2. Jeff Lang (Lexington) 73; 3. (tie) Chris Gentile (Lowell), Ernie Lupi (Haverhill), Nick McLaughlin (SJP), Chad Slumpo (Newton South) 74; 7. Brandon Bingel (SJP) 75; 8. Janik Koenigs (Andover), Scott Farley (Haverhill), Joe Leavitt (Central), Connor Greenleaf (Central), Matt Bullock (SJP) 77