Melrose goes the distance at ML Shoot Out
By JENNIFER GENTILE
STONEHAM—The Melrose High golf team once again took the coveted Middlesex Freedom League trophy at the 2023 Middlesex League Shootout held at Bear Hill Golf Club on Oct. 5 after topping all league opponents at this annual golf tournament, an event that Melrose has now taken for four straight years.
Melrose senior captain Roddy McGillicuddy topped all Freedom competition with a league-best score of 75. In fact all three Melrose shooters that Melrose sent, McGillicuddy, Matthew Fuccione and Noah Fay all broke 80, and that’s a feat that Melrose head coach Rick McDermod was proud of.
“It was a fantastic day. In order for us to pull this off all three golfers had to play their best and they did,” said the longtime coach.
This is Melrose’s fourth straight ML Shoot Out title. Determination of an official ML Freedom title will come after the conclusion of Melrose’s regular league season, which includes upcoming meets against ML Freedom teams Stoneham and Watertown.
McGillicuddy, a senior captain, found his groove and helped pave the way to another trophy earned for Melrose. Says the coach, “Roddy just kept a cool head, played with confidence and that made all the difference.”
Melrose resumes league play this week and is coming off a nail-biter loss against Arlington, who Melrose played on neutral territory at Winchester Country Club. They fell, 41.5-30.5.
“Like many years, sometimes the course you play on dictates how you do,” says McDermod. “Last year we beat Arlington on our home turf. Playing at a course like Winchester is great for us but can be more challenging too. We might have won if we had Arlington at home. But at the same time, who is to say we’d have beaten Arlington if we had played them on the road last season?”
But there is plenty of season left. Melrose has a slew of overdue home meets this week and next, so fans will get a chance to root on Melrose when they host Stoneham and Lexington on Wednesday and Thursday (post deadline) and also host Reading on Tuesday Oct. 17 at 4:00 p.m.