Mooney’s Farewell: St. John’s Golf at PGA Nationals

Ronan Mooney and St. John’s High Golf Team Head to Nationals After Impressive Season

Ronan Mooney, an 18-year-old golfer from Holden, is capping off a remarkable season with an appearance at the PGA High School Golf National Invitational at Pinehurst Resort and CC in Pinehurst, North Carolina. Mooney will be joined by his St. John’s High golf teammates as they aim to improve upon their previous performance at the national level.

Mooney’s journey to the national stage has been paved with impressive victories. In April, he secured the U.S. Challenge Cup Junior Match Play Championship at Newport Country Club in Rhode Island. Building on this success, he then triumphed at the Massachusetts Chapter of the New England Junior PGA held at The Haven CC in Boylston, where he carded a stunning 64 in the first round, finishing the two-day event at 4-under 140. That 64 was only one stroke shy of his personal best, a 63 recorded at his home course, Worcester Country Club.

The St. John’s High golf team earned their invitation to the PGA High School Golf National Invitational by clinching their second consecutive Division 1 state high school championship title. The team secured their ninth state title with a dominant nine-shot victory at The Haven CC. Mooney led the charge with a remarkable 4-under 68, earning medalist honors by an impressive six strokes.

The team consists of Adam Trani, Savar Bhasin, Cael Duggan, and Derek Mulligan. Trani and Duggan will be seniors at St. John’s in the fall. Although Mooney, Bhasin, and Mulligan graduated in the spring, they are eligible to compete in the national tournament.

Last year, the St. John’s team finished tied for 16th place among 50 schools in their debut at the national tournament, which was held in Frisco, Texas. The team is eager to leverage that experience and aim for a higher finish this year.

Mooney expressed his enthusiasm about competing alongside his teammates, stating that it’s an honor to represent his home state. He emphasized the unique experience of traveling and playing golf in a different environment with friends, which adds an extra layer of excitement to the competition.

While Mooney acknowledges that he wasn’t completely satisfied with his performance in the first two rounds of last year’s national tournament, he is focused on giving his best effort this year and leaving Pinehurst with the satisfaction of knowing he left no shots behind.

Following the national invitational, Mooney will participate in the Ouimet Memorial Tournament and the National Junior PGA Championship at Purdue University. These events will serve as valuable preparation as he gets ready to play golf for Sacred Heart University in the fall.

Erin Sullivan Victorious at Worcester County Women’s Amateur

Erin Sullivan secured a significant win at the Worcester County Women’s Amateur held at Tatnuck CC. Sullivan, who now plays out of Walpole CC, shot 69-75 for a total of 2-under 144 to win by two shots. This victory marks her first individual tournament win since her junior golf days.

Sullivan’s success extends beyond individual accolades. She recently teamed up with Lauri Giffin to win the tournament division of the Mass. Golf Women’s Four-Ball Championship for the Townshend Cup. The duo carded a 3-under 69, securing an impressive eight-stroke victory.

Sullivan considers her win at Tatnuck to be a career highlight, describing it as some of the best golf she has ever played. Her opening round of 4-under 69 was a personal best, highlighted by an eagle on the 420-yard, par-5 fourth hole.

Cyprian Keyes to Host Massachusetts Amateur Public Links

Cyprian Keyes GC in Boylston is set to host the Massachusetts Amateur Public Links. The tournament is open to amateur golfers who are members of public courses.

Several Cyprian Keyes golfers are expected to compete, including Joe Macauley, who won the qualifier at Gardner Municipal GC, and Michael Dinola, who finished second. The Mark Mungeam-designed Cyprian Keyes GC is anticipated to provide a challenging and interesting course for the tournament participants.