HAMPDEN, Mass. — While St. John's Shrewsbury celebrated its Massachusetts Division 1 team championship on the 18th green at GreatHorse, Ryan Downes, the stellar senior from Longmeadow, had some quiet moments on his birthday with his family after firing a 68 to win individual honors.
Downes's mom, Lauren Downes, and dad, Billy Downes, were on hand to watch the round. So was his uncle, Bobby Downes, who is the head at CC of Wilbraham. Ryan's grandfather rode along in a cart with Bobby.
Billy Downes is the head pro at GreatHorse, so Downes knows the place like the back of his hand.
While Downes would tell you he wasn't in complete control of his golf ball and he left a few shots out there on his home course, he was delighted to defend his state title and ride off into the sunset for Vanderbilt in the fall.