MIAA DIVISION III GOLF

McCann Tech’s Gabe Thomas shot a 9-over-par 80 to lead all Berkshire County finishers at Monday’s D-III State Championship.
MIKE WALSH — THE BERKSHIRE EAGLE

Lenox struggles; Old Rochester repeats as champion at Stockbridge Golf Club

STOCKBRIDGE — The last time McCann Tech’s Gabe Thomas competed at Stockbridge Golf Club, he came away as a champion.

McCann Tech’s Gabe Thomas walks the 11th green at Stockbridge Golf Club on Monday.
MIKE WALSH — THE BERKSHIRE EAGLE

Monday morning, the McCann sophomore returned to the spot where he won the 2026 Berkshire Classic. While he did not do nearly as well in the MIAA Division III State Championship, Thomas was the top Berkshire County finisher in the event.

“It was definitely a lot worse, to put it simple,” Thomas said with a bit of a smile after he shot 9-over-par 80 in Monday’s event. “I just couldn’t really do much today. Nothing was working out.

“Sometimes you just have those days and it wasn’t my day today.”

Thomas’ round was 1 stroke better than Hoosac Valley’s Zach Mongeon, who had an 81. Lenox’s Noah Pinsonneault and McCann’s Kane Kondel were next up on the Berkshire County list, as they each shot 86.

A year ago, Thomas was also the top Berkshire County finisher in the tournament, held at Blissful Meadows in Uxbridge. Thomas shot 85 a year ago and finished in a four-way tie for 26th place. One of those other three was Thomas’ McCann Tech teammate Nolan Booth.

McCann Tech’s Gabe Thomas shot a 9-over-par 80 to lead all Berkshire County finishers at Monday’s D-III State Championship.
MIKE WALSH — THE BERKSHIRE EAGLE

Old Rochester successfully defended its state title, beating runner-up Triton by 9 strokes. A year ago Old Rochester won the state title by 8 strokes over Ayer-Shirley, a school that did not qualify in Division III this year.

McCann Tech’s Kale Kondel reads the 11th green at Stockbridge Golf Club on Monday at the state championship tournament.
MIKE WALSH — THE BERKSHIRE EAGLE

Hopedale’s Colin Hayes was medalist, shooting 3-over-par 74 on the Stockbridge course. Old Rochester’s Jack Czerkowicz and Swampscott’s Luke McGonagle tied for second, 1 stroke behind Hayes.

There were 12 teams in the Division III field. Lenox was the only Berkshire County school to send a team. The Millionaires, led by Pinsonneault, finished 12th.

Thomas was coming off his tie for second place at the Western Mass. D-III championship, played last Tuesday at Ludlow Country Club. But to describe Thomas’ start as a rough one Monday could be kind. 

Lenox senior Oliver Kirby tees off at Stockbridge Golf Club on Monday. The Millionaires were the lone county team to qualify for the D-III State Championship.
MIKE WALSH — THE BERKSHIRE EAGLE

The Hornet golfer teed off from the 16th hole, bogeyed the par-4 16th and followed that up with a double bogey and two more bogeys before righting the ship with a par on the par-4 third hole.

“It was a combination of both for sure,” Thomas said, when asked if it was his driving or putting that was the problem. “I had three good shots on every hole and one bad shot. Whether it was my putting or my driving or my irons, it was just one little shot on every hole that got me.”

Zach Mongeon shot a 10-over 81 to place 21st overall in Monday’s MIAA D-III State Championship Tournament in Stockbridge.
MIKE WALSH — THE BERKSHIRE EAGLE

After that rough start, Thomas settled in with four consecutive pars and a birdie on the par-5, 495-yard seventh hole. But after a double-bogey on the eighth hole, he came home with five pars and only two bogeys to finish at 80.

When Thomas won the Berkshire Classic, it was played after an overnight of rain. On Monday, the course played longer because it was dry and Thomas said that helped impact things.

Zach Mongeon weighs his club options before teeing off on the 12th hole at Stockbridge Golf Club on Monday.
MIKE WALSH — THE BERKSHIRE EAGLE

Hoosac’s Mongeon had a similarly rough start. He began at the 18th hole and made double-bogey 6. After three straight bogeys, he settled in with six pars in his next seven holes.

“It was a tough day to battle,” said Mongeon, who said he played — in his words — OK. “My putting had improved from my last couple of performances. The course was in great condition. I struggled on the back nine. I shot 41 with three doubles. It’s a tough one to battle.”

It was also a challenging day to be wearing Lenox maroon and gold. 

While the Millionaires finished 12 out of 12 teams, head coach Brian Shepardson said with half of the six golfers who competed returning next year, it was a valuable day.

Pinsonnault and Mia Freeman, who was one shot behind Pinsonnault, are both sophomores. Jacob Quallen is a freshman. All three will potentially have multiple shots at playing for a state title before they graduate.

“I’m super happy for Noah. He had our best round. Oliver struggled but he had been playing really good. But that’s golf,” Shepardson said. “It’s huge [for the ones coming back]. I think it usually gets easier the more times they go. The first time, Noah shot in the 100s, the first two times he played. This year, he shot 86. It’s just the comfort level that makes a big difference.”

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MIAA DIVISION III CHAMPIONSHIPSat Stockbridge Golf ClubTeam totalsOld Rochester 315, 2. Triton 324, 3. Hopedale 328, 4. Advanced Math & Science 331, 5. Lynnfield 337, 6. Norwell 338, 7. Montachusett RVT 343, 8. Ipswich 344, 9. Franklin County Tech 346, 10. Sandwich 356, 11. West Bridgewater 358, 12. Lenox 359.Top 10 Finishers(Par 71)

Colin Hayes, Hopedale 74; 2. (tie) Jack Czerkowicz, Old Rochester and Luke McGonagle, Swampscott 75; 4. Jack Kusler, Amesbury 76; 5. (tie) Conor Kevin, Triton, Griffin Mayo, Saint John Paul II, Olivia Jatczak, Cape Cod Academy and Cael Piekos, Bromfield 77; 9. (tie) Lukas Segur, Montachusett RVT, Evan Pelland Advanced Math & Science, Drew Butler, Old Rochester, Reid Faldi, Hamilton-Wenham and John O’Leary, Sutton 78.Berkshire County Finishers(tie) Gabe Thomas, McCann Tech 80; 21. (tie) Zach Mongeon, Hoosac Valley 81; 45. (tie) Noah Pinsonneault, Lenox and Kale Kondel, McCann Tech 86; 51. (tie) Mia Freeman, Lenox 87; 76. (tie) Oliver Kirby, Lenox 92; 81. (tie) Jacob Quallen, Lenox 94; 84. (tie) Edmund Pritchard, Lenox 95; 94. Katie Shove, Lenox 106;