Bulldog golfers capture Hock championship

Coach Mike Barucci, Matt Minichiello, Danny Powers and tournament co-MVP Jack Goyetch

Armed with a league championship and an impressive 10-4 season record, the CHS golf team went into postseason play this week with high hopes and lots of positive momentum. Six Bulldog golfers — Matt Minichiello, Jack Goyetch, Danny Powers, Jackson Maffeo, Joey Vaughan and Pat Duggan — were set to compete in the Division 2 south sectional tournament, scheduled for Monday, October 24, at Easton Country Club.

Spirits were sure to be high following the team’s impressive win at the Hockomock League Championship match, held last Thursday on the 18-hole championship course at Blue Hill Country Club. The top three golfers from each of the league’s 12 teams competed, and Canton emerged victorious on their home course, winning by one stroke over Davenport Division champion North Attleboro with a combined score of 234. Canton had last won the league title in 2012.

Individually, Goyetch was the star for Canton, tying Milford’s Ryan Tomaso with a match-low score of 75 and earning co-MVP honors. The Bulldogs’ other two participants also had a strong performance with Powers shooting a 78 and Minichiello shooting an 81.

“I was really proud of how well all three of my guys played,” said head coach Mike Barucci. “We knew the competition was going to be tough and it was going to take the best golf we had to win. Jack had an incredible round of 75 to help us secure the win. He made some big putts throughout the round to help him shoot a 75.”

Some of the other highlights from the day included an eagle on the ninth hole by Powers and Goyetch nearly chipping in for eagle on the 18th hole. Minichiello also birdied the 18th hole, which helped seal the win for Canton. “If he had parred or worse we may have lost,” noted Barucci.

Earlier in the week, the Bulldogs traveled to Highland Country Club and beat Attleboro 165-178. “We had never played at Highland so it was a good test to see how we could do on an unfamiliar course,” Barucci said. “The course was very challenging and we did very well given that we had not seen it before. It was a great team effort as all eight golfers shot a 44 or below.”

Vaughan led the way for Canton with a low score of 40, followed by Powers with a 41. The three seniors, Duggan, Minichiello and Jackson Maffeo, rounded out the scoring with a 42.

The day prior to the league championship, the Bulldogs lost to undefeated Oliver Ames at home 151-147. “We knew it was going to be a close one and we would have to play our best golf to win,” Barucci acknowledged. “We did a great job and posted one of our better home scores, but OA is a strong team and has eight golfers who can shoot close to even par at any time. Minichiello and Powers both shot a 37 for the match, followed by Tommy Dimock with a 38 and Vaughan and Duggan each with a 39.

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