GOFFSTOWN, N.H. — Jack Meehan and Pat Daley were aiming for McFlurrys once they were done with the NHIAA Division I state team golf championship on Tuesday afternoon. Instead, they walked away below the cut to qualify for Sunday’s 18-hole individual championship in Concord.
Meehan carded a 1-over-par 73 for third overall through 18 holes, and Daley placed eighth with a 4-over-par 76.
Hanover High golf coach John Donnelly said if his Marauders didn’t have to redrop a ball during Tuesday’s championship at Stonebridge Country Club, a quick McDonald’s stop would be in order. Hanover finished fourth in a 10-team field as Bedford won for the fifth straight year with an overall score of 394; Hanover was at 416.
“We focus on no three-putts and no double bogeys; if we do that we get a reward. We get a McFlurry at Mc Donald’s, ” Meehan said. “Today, another one was not losing a single ball. We set these little goals, and if you follow them you get a McFlurry. A McFlurry usually means a good score.”
Entering the day, the Marauders were ranked fifth with a 16-6 record after their second full season playing a D-I schedule. Last season was their first year playing against the likes of Bedford, Exeter and Nashua North, the perennial D-I title contenders.
Donnelly said that Meehan and Daley were finding their way last season, not having the confidence that they could compete against the entire field. On Tuesday, they looked comfortable and unfazed.
Hanover started play on the back nine, the most challenging part of the course, with narrow fairways and tough hazards to read.
Meehan shined with a 2-over 39, which included a birdie on 17. He parred on 14, a hole that doesn’t allow for much wiggle room on the tee shot. On the front nine, he shot a 1-under 34; he birdied on holes No. 1 and 8. Meehan’s only bogey on the front came on 9.
Daley shot a 39 on the back nine, too, but he double bogeyed on 14. He birdied on 11 and 17 to compensate for the blemish. He tallied birdies on 1 and 3, but faltered with four bogeys, including back-to-back on No. 6 and 7.
“Hopefully, we can keep that play going at individuals,” Daley said. “I missed it last year, so I was really trying to do it last summer. Worked on my irons a lot. I played the back nine pretty well going into the front nine.”
Cameron Woods finished with an 85, with his lone birdie on No. 2. He shot par or better on nine holes.
Justin Alderdice was consistent on the back nine with four pars, but he struggled on the front nine. He shot bogey or worse on seven of the nine holes but was able to shoot a birdie on No. 9 to end his round.
Meredith Morhun won the 18-hole NHIAA girls championship on Oct. 5. On Tuesday, the senior shot a 93 with two birdies. Her best hole of the day was on No. 17, a 521-yard par five, which Morhun was able to par.
“Our game plan was not to hit drivers off the tee most of the time, to hit irons,” Donnelly said. “They stuck to it, and I was very proud of them. It takes self-discipline. They were very coachable and did everything I asked of them, including today. Golf is a difficult game; it doesn’t always turn out the way you want to.”
The fourth-place finish is an improvement from last year’s sixth place.
For the veteran Donnelly, he was pleased with the performance from Meehan and Daley, but he admitted that for Hanover to take the step forward, the Marauders’ three other golfers will have to be consistent.
That thought is on pause, however, as all five of Donnelly’s scoring golfers Tuesday are seniors.
With a small junior class, he’s hoping that eighth-graders will replenish his resources. Donnelly’s hungry for another championship, especially after winning eight in 15 years at the D-II level.
“It’s going to be a challenge,” he said.
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Chip Shots: Natalie Morhun (93), Tristan Meyer (95) and Spencer Lawe (96) had Hanover’s non-scoring rounds. … Jack Pepin from Timberlane leads D-I heading into the indivudal championship. He shot a 2-under 70 and had three birdies. … Tee times have not been set for Sunday’s individual championships.
Pete Nakos can be reached at pnakos@vnews.com or 603-727-3306.