LYNNFIELD — It’s been a special season for the Lynnfield High golf team. The Pioneers polished off a perfect 12-0 record Monday afternoon, defeating visiting Essex Tech, 178-117, at Sagamore Spring Golf Course to put an exclamation point on a Cape Ann League Kinney Division championship, its first in five years.
“That’s the most wins for any Lynnfield golf team in quite a while,” coach Mike Moresco said. “I can’t go back far enough to find any LHS golf team that won more matches. It’s been an amazing season to say the least.”
Against Essex Tech, junior Paul Daley led the way with 34 points. Senior captain Deven Henehan and junior Owen Doherty chipped in 32 points each. Senior Joe Raffa was right behind with 28 points. Senior Niko Kozakis (26 points), junior Brady Field (26 points), senior captain Gavin Leuci (24 points) and senior Owen Mullin (23 points) also played well.
The team clinched the league title on September 28 with a 169-165 win over North Reading at Hillview Golf Course, the Pioneers’ second victory against the Hornets in as many days.
Leuci finished with a team-high 36 points. Henehan (31 points) and Daley (30 points) also topped the 30-point mark. Mullin, who has battled injuries all season, came up clutch, clinching the match with 28 points.
“Even with the injuries, Owen has still managed to make himself an integral part of this team,” Moresco said. “That league-clinching match against North Reading came down to Owen’s 28 points playing out of the No. 7 spot.”
Kozakis (22 points) and Doherty (22 points) also factored in the scoring.
On Oct. 3 at home, the team established a couple of school records in its 185-136 win against Georgetown. The Pioneers’ point total was the highest for any team since the league went to the modified Stableford quota scoring system which awards points for double bogeys, bogeys, pars, birdies and eagles.
Five players cracked the 30-point mark with Henehan, Leuci, Daley and Doherty posting 32 points and Field checking in with 30.
Moresco said Henehan and Leuci have served as role models and are “great captains.”
“Deven was our organizer throughout the summer into the fall. He set up practice rounds and saw to it that all were included,” Moresco said. “The way he has come back very strongly the last third of the season after a bit of a mid-season slump is testament to his work ethic.”
“Gavin is more of a quiet leader who always puts others before himself. He’s had a very consistent season and is currently our No. 2 scorer.”
Daley finishes the season as the Pioneers’ top scorer.
“He is an outstanding junior who has had an extremely consistent season,” Moresco said. “He, along with Gavin and Deven, are golfers first and have spent a great deal of time honing their craft.”
Doherty has been another solid performer. Moresco said he has only begun to scratch the surface of his potential.
“Watch out for him next season,” Moresco said.
Field, who played JV last year, is one of the most improved players on the team.
“He committed himself to the game of golf and put in the work demanded by success,” Moresco said. “This season, he has made the jump to varsity because of this work and has been an important part of this team’s success.”
Moresco said Kozakis, Raffa and Ryan MacEachern have also played major roles throughout the season.
“These seniors have put in the work and have earned a spot on this team,” Moresco said.
And it’s not the just varsity team that has excelled; the junior varsity team, new this year, is also undefeated, finishing the season 4-0.
“This team wins as a group with one supporting the other,” Moresco said. “They have accepted the notion of grinding on the golf course and they fight for every point. I am very proud of all 23 golfers in our program.”
The Pioneers now shift their focus to the postseason. Thursday, the team will send two players to the Cape Ann League championship tournament at Far Corner Golf Course in West Boxford. On Monday, Oct. 23 the team will travel to Stow Acres Golf Course (North Course) in Stow for the Division 3 North Sectional Tournament. The top two teams and top-10 individuals advance to the State Division 3 Championship on Tuesday, Oct. 31 at Weston Golf Club.
