CONCORD – Jascha Johnston ended his career with the Exeter High School golf team the same way his freshman year ended – with a New Hampshire Division I individual state championship.
After placing second in his sophomore and junior seasons, Johnston got his second individual championship on Saturday at Beaver Meadow Golf Course.
Johnston started Saturday’s second-and-final 18-hole round in sixth place and three shots behind leader Taylor Miller of Keene.
Johnston shot a 6-over-par 78 in the first round of the tournament at Canterbury Woods Country Club on Tuesday. Four days later, he fired a 5-under-par 67 for a two-day score of 1-over-par 145.
Keene’s Nolan Cahill placed second with a two-day score of 9-over-par 153, eight shots behind Johnston.
“(The two titles) are different, but it feels good coming back after being three shots back in this tournament,” Johnston said. “My freshman year I was leading (after the first round) and played well the second day. Today, I was (trailing) and shot 11 shots better than my previous round. I am pretty happy with today.”
Johnston had one bogey, six birdies, and 12 pars on the day. The lone bogey was on the par-3 sixth hole.
“(Johnston) was straight and long all day,” Exeter head coach Ira Martin said. “He was locked in on the greens, and his putting was great. When other players are (getting bogeys) and you’re hitting it down the middle 315 yards, it’s tough to make up that ground.”
Martin said Johnston set the tone early on with his drives, out-distancing the competition by up to 45 yards.
“When you hit the ball that long, it really puts pressure on the rest of the field,” Martin said. “He was locked in shot by shot. He certainly was focused.”
Portsmouth sophomore Grey Gagnon shot a 1-over-par 73 on Saturday at Beaver Meadow Golf Course and captured the Division II individual boys championship with a two-day score of 3-over-par 146. He shot a 2-over-par 73 in Tuesday’s first round at Windham Country Club.
“I played pretty solid, didn’t make any big mistakes, and didn’t really let anyone back in the match when I got up,” Gagnon said. “I struck it pretty good today, and I am really happy with how I played.”
Gagnon placed fourth in last year’s Division II individual championship as a freshman. Gagnon was tied with Souhegan’s Joe Mayo going into Saturday’s round.
Gagnon was 2-under after his first three holes and Saturday, and built a three-shot lead after the front nine.
“At that point I knew I just needed to stay in front and not make any mistakes,” said Gagnon, who had two birdies and 13 pars Saturday.
Gagnon is the first Portsmouth golfer to win an individual title in Kyle Harrison’s 15-year tenure as head coach.
“He was just locked in, you could see it in him, he was just locked in,” Harrison said. “It was really fun to watch someone in the lead just keep his head and do what he needed to do to win.”
Winnacunnet High School senior Jimmy Schouller shot a 5-over-par 77 on Saturday and placed second overall, five shots off the pace.
Eight of the top 10 were from Seacoast schools. Winnacunnet’s Chris Berry, Portsmouth’s Turner Leduc and St. Thomas Aquinas’ Ryan Allard all tied for fourth with a 159, Oyster River’s Jackson Follis was eighth (164), St. Thomas’ Finn Perry was ninth (166) and Winnacunnet’s Elliott Brinser was 10th (167). Winnacunnet’s Alex Santora tied for 13th (173).
“There are definitely a lot of good golfers in the Seacoast,” Gagnon said.
Dover High School senior Carys Fennessy shot a 5-under-par 167 and won her fourth straight New Hampshire girls individual championship with a two-day score of 8-under-par 135.
“Off my summer season, I expected to do pretty well,” Fennessy said. “My goal I set freshman year was to (win each year). Every year I won has been working toward that goal. This has been a goal of mine for a long time, and it’s really nice to have accomplished that.”
Bishop Brady’s Madelyn Savary placed second, seven strokes behind Fennessy. Savary shot a 2-under-par 70 on Saturday.
“Winning four straight has been amazing, but I think this was the most difficult one,” said father and coach, Matt. “(Savary) played really well. She shot a 70 today, her score any other year wins easily. Carys shot a 67 and really needed to shoot that today to close out an amazing high school career. To get four was always her goal, and to do it, is great.”
Fennessy held a four-stroke lead after shooting a 3-under par 68 two weeks ago in a qualifier at Campbell’s Scottish Highlands in Salem.
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This article originally appeared on Portsmouth Herald: Three Seacoast golfers claim NHIAA high school individual state titles
