NEEDHAM, Massachusetts – In qualifying at Needham Golf Club on Wednesday, 12 golfers secured the final spots in next month’s Massachusetts Junior Amateur Championship Powered By KOHR Golf.
The Championship, which will be held from August 2-5 at Northern Spy Golf Club in Townsend, pits the state’s top high school players against one another in up to six rounds of competition. The championship proper features120 golfers between ages 14-18.
Thomas O’Connell, a member at the nearby Wellesley Country Club, earned medalist honors by carding a 1-under 71, including a back-nine 33 that was the best 9-hole score of all qualifiers. O’Connell was one of only two competitors to record an eagle, which he did on the par-4 12th hole. The rising senior at IMG Academy qualified for the Junior Amateur last year, but did not advance to match play.
Henry Reilly (Oyster Harbors Club) and Ryan Scollins (Franklin Country Club) are also back in the field after missing the cut for match play in 2021 by four strokes. Reilly, who graduated from Medfield High School this spring and is set to join the Trinity College men’s golf team in the fall, finished just behind O’Connell with a 1-over 73 after making birdie on hole 18 to slide into second place. Scollins, a rising senior at Xaverian Brothers High School in Westwood, made par on 11 consecutive holes to punch his ticket.
With three prior appearances in the Junior Amateur from 2019-2021, Needham native Matthew Hua (Kohr Golf Center) was one of the most seasoned competitors attempting to qualify for this year’s championship. Playing on his high school course, Hua finished strong with birdies on the final two holes to slide into sole possession of third place.
There were eight first-time qualifiers in the field: Cole Scannell (Walpole Country Club), Robert Marshall (MIAA), Gavin Lane (Nashawtuc Country Club), Maxwell McWilliams (Wianno Golf Club), Mason Bowie (The Haven Country Club), Brian Campbell (Woodlands Golf Club), Will Eddy (Vesper Country Club) and Matthew Abrams (Belmont Country Club).
The cutline was 5-over-par 77.
HERE IS THE COMPLETE LIST OF QUALIFIERS AND ALTERNATES FROM THE FINAL WEEK OF JUNIOR AMATEUR QUALIFYING:
WEDNESDAY, 7/6
QUALIFIERS (Needham GC – Par 72)
Thomas O’Connell, Wellesley Country Club; 71
Henry Reilly, Oyster Harbors Club; 73
Matthew Hua, Kohr Golf Center; 74
Ryan Scollins, Franklin Country Club; 75
Cole Scannell, Walpole Country Club; 75
Robert Marshall, MIAA; 75
Gavin Lane, Nashawtuc Country Club; 76
Maxwell McWilliams, Wianno Golf Club; 76
Mason Bowie, The Haven Country Club; 76
Brian Campbell, Woodland Golf Club; 77
Will Eddy, Vesper Country Club; 77
Matthew Abrams, Belmont Country Club; 77
ALTERNATE
Kyle Harsh, White Cliffs Country Club; 78
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