THE HORNET golf team made history with a 3rd place finish on Monday at the Div. 3 North Sectional tournament in Stow. North Reading will now return to the state finals for the first time in 19 years when they go to Sterling National Country Club on Oct. 30. (Eric Evans File Photo)
By STEPHEN MARTELLUCCI
STOW — It was a great day on Monday for the North Reading High golf team at the Division 3 North Sectionals at Stow Acres on a sunny, crisp day.
The Hornets captured third place overall with a team score of 329 and will advance to the Div. 3 state final next Monday.
There were seven schools competing and only the top three advanced.
Weston, the defending Div. 3 state champs, won at 312 while Stoneham was second at 328. Lynnfield, who beat the Hornets twice in the regular season and became the Cape Ann League Kinney Division champions, came in fourth at 330.
“It was a magical day,” stated Hornets head coach Brian McAuliffe. “This is the highlight of my golf coaching career.”
Isabel Brozena led the way shooting a 77 on the Par 72 layout. She tied for 2nd overall in the individual part of the tournament and will compete for the individual crown, along with the team title next week (only the top six individuals qualify).
Tom Gazda and Jason Curran both shot an 83. The fourth score that counted was Leo Romanski who had an 86.
The two other scores, which didn’t count towards the total, were Liam Blanchette (95) and Max Forristall (101).
“Tom had the round of his life and was key to us advancing,” pointed out McAuliffe, about the junior. “He struggled in the practice round we played there the day before but Isabel gave him some advice and it really helped him.”
This week, the Hornets will gear up for the Div. 3 state final on Oct. 30 as they will travel out west as the tournament will take place at Sterling National Country Club.
That event will start at 10 a.m.
This will be the team’s first trip to the state finals in over 20 years as they have a practice round scheduled at the private club on Sunday.
In the regular season, the Hornets finished at 11-3 overall and 9-2 in the Cape Ann League. They placed third in the CAL Kinney Division behind Lynnfield and Newburyport.