The Division 2 Massachusetts high school state championship will take place on Monday at Thorny Lea Golf Club in Brockton.
The last two state championships have been dominated by two teams — Old Rochester and Bishop Stang. Each team has recorded a win and a runner-up since 2021. Old Rochester will defend its title this year. After adding five new players to its roster, they still managed to find a way to qualify. Bishop Stang is undefeated this season and seems to be the team to beat this year.
Thorny Lea GC boasts one of the strongest golfing memberships in the state. USGA Champions Matt Parziale and Shannon Johnson both call it their home course along with a plethora of other highly competitive amateur golfers and scratch handicaps. The reason so many good golfers play out of Thorny Lea is because it requires a multitude of shots to succeed there.
[caption id="attachment_115187" align="alignright" width="2000"] The eighth hole at Thorny Lea has one of the most challenging greens on the course. (Rich Campbell)[/caption]
The competitors on Monday will be forced to hit accurate tee shots and might even have to shape their shots to manage certain doglegs. The greens are challenging, with severe back-to-front slopes that will force players to hit their shots the proper distance or have to putt down the steep hills.
The individual and team titles are sure to be close battles in a town known as the birthplace of boxing heavyweight world champion Rocky Marciano.
Let's meet the teams that will be entering the ring on Monday.