SOUTHAMPTON — The Franklin Tech golf team is heading back to the state tournament. 

The Eagles reached the state tournament a season ago following a third place finish at the 2022 Western Mass. Div. 3 championship. On Tuesday, at the 2023 Western Mass. Div. 3 championship at Southampton Country Club, Tech once again put together a strong day to earn a second straight ticket to states. 

The Eagles finished with a team score of 348, with Brady Booska (78), Gabe Mota (83), Will Belval (88) and Braeden Talbot (99) being the four scores that counted, helping Franklin Tech finish third on the day. Tyler Lafountain (111) also competed. 

With the top three teams advancing to states, the Eagles will be going to Sterling National Country Club next Monday for the Div. 3 state tournament. 

“We didn’t expect this as a team,” Booska said. “We’re hoping to get a top three finish at states.” 

Monty Tech was the overall winner on Tuesday, shooting a 319. Hopkins took second with a score of 345. Monty Tech’s Brett Cherubini was the individual winner on the day with a 74. 

Booska, who was the reigning individual champion, placed fourth overall with his score of 78. 

“It was the same as last year,” Booska said. “I played all right. I hit two fairways all day and didn’t play well. The course was super nice.” 

The Eagles aren’t the only ones from Turners advancing to states. 

Turners Falls’ Joey Mosca shot a 76 on Tuesday, a score that placed him second overall. That finish earned Mosca an individual spot at states, something he was gearing for during his senior season. 

“It’s a good rebound from last year,” Mosca said. “I think I shot a 94 there. Senior year, it sucks the team didn’t make it. I’m excited to go. It’ll be fun going to states. Nice course, some better opponents. We’ll see how it goes. Hopefully I play well and can get the putter going.”

It was the long game that propelled Mosca to the second-place finish. 

Mosca had it going with his driver throughout the round, but a few mistakes on the greens held him back from being the match medalist. 

“I played pretty well,” Mosca said. “Putting wasn’t all there but I was hitting the ball well. My driver finally came through which was nice. I had a club I could rely on.” 

Overall, Mosca said he enjoyed the competition and the course down in Southampton. 

“The course was nice,” Mosca added. “The fairways were really good. The greens had a lot of slopes. It’s almost like you’d rather chip in some spots. If you’re above the hole, it’s over. You can’t keep it short.” 

Jack Day (87), Darien Burnett (89) and Reese Ewell (99) rounded out the Turners scorers on Tuesday, giving it a score of 351 which placed it fourth overall and three strokes shy of Franklin Tech for qualifying for states as a team. Liam Kerivan (112) and Grady Deery (120) also competed on the day for the Thunder. 

Pioneer finished with a sixth place finish with a score of 365. Brayden Thayer (84), Ben Werner (92), Hugh Cyhowski (94) and Mike Stennes (95) scored for the Panthers while Ethan Mauthe (102) and Ryan Guertin (104) rounded out the Pioneer competitors.