Golf: Prep’s McLaughlin blazes to Division 1 individual championship

St. John’s Prep golf coach Larry O’Neill was expecting to have his entire squad at Turner Hill in Ipswich on Monday for the Division 1 state finals. But the Eagles failed to advance out of the North sectionals last week.The Eagles did, however, have sophomore Nick McLaughlin qualify for the individual championship. And on a cold and blustery Monday, the sophomore gave the Prep something it hasn’t had in 41 years: An individual state champion.McLaughlin made three birdies and three bogeys on the challenging Turner Hill layout to post an even-par round of 72 that bested the field by an astounding six shots.”To see him win by that much was just astounding,” O’Neill said. “He played very, very well. And fortunately, we’ve got him back for another two years.”In the Division 3 finals, held at Wyantenuck C.C. in Great Barrington, Wayland breezed to a six-shot victory in the team competition. Danvers, which qualified for the finals by a single shot last week, finished sixth with a team score of 315.The Falcons’ surprising performance was great for coach Jeff Avigian to see.”It’s pretty amazing,” Avigian said, “because this was a team that everyone said would struggle to make the tournament, let alone win a conference title. It’s the most proud I’ve ever been of one of my teams.”Pat Saunders was the medallist for the Falcons, shooting a stellar 74. Kyle Larson added a 79 while Steve Cleary and George Merry each shot 81.”I never thought that we would play that well,” Avigian said.In the individual championship, Lynnfield’s Paul O’Brien shot 76 and St. Mary’s Kevin McCarthy shot 77. Wayland’s Joe Cooper won with a round of 68.