Girls' state golf tourney
GIRLS STATE GOLF
BROCKTON — They won’t take this one away.
Lunenburg’s Emily Nash claimed the girls individual state golf championship at Thorny Lea Country Club yesterday, battling through less than ideal weather to shoot a 75 on the spacious par-70 course.
It was a long time coming for the junior, as she had her state crown in the boys championships last fall vacated by the MIAA.
“It was definitely one of my goals this year to win either sectionals or state. It definitely means a lot to me,” Nash said of the individual triumph. “Especially in that last stretch of holes, I just had to calm down because I felt I could probably win this. It was a big accomplishment to come back and win the girls state (championship).
“It is great after what happened in the fall, and to not let it get me down or anything like that.”
Concord-Carlisle’s Gabrielle Shieh (79) and Scituate’s Kaitlynn Washburn (79) made it a challenge for Nash, as the trio played in the same group, all finishing in the top three.
Shieh and Washburn were right on the heels of Nash until the final hole.
“I knew that if I could win against Gabby then I could most likely win against the field,” said Nash. “Coming into the last hole, I only had a 1-shot lead and she had a little trouble on that hole while I ended up birdieing it. I feel knowing her score definitely kept me focused.”
On the team side, Ellie DeAndrade (87), Mary Dion (106), Kelly Ewanich (112) and Jackie Hurley (112) bolstered Notre Dame-Hingham to a state championship, edging Barnstable by 8 strokes to come away with their fourth team champi- onship since 2010.
“We have been the runner-up a couple of years without winning,” said NDA coach Jay Durfee. “It is nice to get back on track. Our girls bought into what we were doing all year long and this is the ultimate prize.”