After finishing as the state golf individual runner-up as a freshman, and falling well short last year, Brookline senior James Imai had high expectations and championship intentions for his final go this year.
Imai accomplished that in yesterday’s Division 1 state championships at Chicopee Country Club. The weather wasn’t great and he suffered two bogeys at the start of his back nine holes, but with a 4-under 67 Imai edged Xaverian’s Joseph Lenane (70) to finally win a state individual crown before graduating.
“It’s kind of a relief,” Imai said. “Freshman year I came in second, and ever since I just put too much pressure on myself to try and win. … I got it this year, that’s all that matters.”
Following an “OK start” during which Imai believed he didn’t take advantage of the easier holes, the senior stayed patient and waited for opportunities to strike big. His only two bogeys came on the 10th and 12th holes, but Imai went on to sink a 20-foot shot on the 14th for a birdie. He eagled the next hole and added another birdie on the 18th to seal the win.
With intermittent rain, a wet course seemed to affect several golfers. Imai said he just stayed focused on his goals and didn’t let the rain get to him.
“My goal was to win,” Imai said. “I eagled 15, which I knew was huge. … For me, I don’t like to get bothered by weather. You’ve still got to play golf.”
With Lenane’s 70 as well as strong rounds fro Eric Boulger (73), Christian Brady (76) and Boomer Jenks (78), Xaverian finished with a 297 to edge St. John’s Prep (301) and Lincoln-Sudbury (302). BC High, which finished with a 311, had combined with St. John’s Prep to beat Xaverian three times in the regular season.
“There’s a lot of great teams here,” Xaverian head coach Gerry Lambert said. “You have six guys play 18 holes apiece out there, and it comes down to lip-outs, chunk chips, and the little things.
“It was our day thanks to a lot of hard work by those guys, and probably some good fortune. We’re obviously thrilled to have come out on top. … It’s a wonderful testament to the entire team to grind it out.”
St. Mary’s again
On a brisk and rain-filled morning, a rough pitch and damp green did not stop the defending Division 3 state champion at Black Swan Country Club in Georgetown.
St. Mary’s won its second title in as many years with a team score of 323, edging Dover-Sherborn by just 1 stroke. Tee times were delayed because of heavy rain in the morning.
“This is the year we thought we were going to do it and last year was just a bonus,” Spartans coach Jay Fiste said. “We just got really hot in the state tournament last year. We knew this was going to be our strongest year with Christian (Emmerich) being a senior.”
Emmerich led the charge yet again as he hit an even-par 72 to repeat as the individual state champion.
“It feels really great,” Emmerich said of both repeat titles. “Last year the competition was really tough and 1-under got it done. This year, the course was tougher and a little more wet. I knew that I won, but then it was crazy how the team also won.”
Emmerich had a birdie on the second hole and a bogey on the third, but the rest were all pars in a very eventful afternoon for the senior.
“My putting was off,” Emmerich said about the weather. “I made a lot of par putts like 10 feet and that really saved me.”
His brother, freshman Aiden Emmerich, earned the runner-up trophy with a 1-over 73 and was pushing his older brother all course long.
“Aiden is only a freshman so he’s got a big upside,” Fiste said. “This is their sport and they pretty much concentrate on (golf) all year round. Today shows how much work they put in.”
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