As much as she loves the game of golf, Maxine Harney didn’t spend much time on courses growing up. In Bangkok, where she was raised, golf is more suited for the wealthy than a young girl looking to learn.
After moving to Medford her freshman year, Harney joined the Mustangs golf team her sophomore year. She was little more than a novice, just trying to become a better golfer.
But the art of the game is in her blood.
Now a senior, Harney, the granddaughter of the late Massachusetts golfing legend Paul Harney, shot a round of 78 Monday to take the Greater Boston League individual championship at Indian Ridge Golf Course in Andover.
“You could say I’m relatively new to the game, but you could also say I grew up with it, and it almost comes naturally to me,” said Harney. “For that, I’m very fortunate.”
Even on a cold, misty afternoon, Harney beat out 15 male competitors to clinch the title by six strokes.
“I had a lot of fun today,” said Harney. “It’s my senior year and I felt like I had to pull off a win, but at the end of the day, even if I didn’t win it, I had a lot of fun”
Harney is also the daughter of former long-drive world record-holder and 1981 National Power Hitting Champion, Chris Harney. As if it were passed from father to daughter, Maxine Harney’s ability to drive the ball far and stay on the fairway kept her atop the leaderboard Monday afternoon. Harney’s short game was also on display. She made several long putts to save par, and had a couple of birdie putts that just missed.
“Maxine is probably the hardest-working golfer that I’ve ever had nine years of doing this job,” said Medford coach Ray Dyer. “She’s tirelessly working on her game. She was terrific all day. She’s a dynamo.”
Duxbury 237, Quincy 256 — Senior captain James Mattes shot an even-par 35 with two birdies for the Dragons.
Boys’ soccer
Marshfield 6, Sandwich 1 — Senior captain Evan Jastremski scored five goals for the Rams (7-2), giving him 16 for the season.
Dorchester 4, Burke 3 — Warren Exceus netted three goals for the Bears (6-2).
Cardinal Spellman 7, Holbrook 2 — Junior Jake Armstrong recorded his first hat trick of the season for the Cardinals (4-3-1).
Chelsea 2, Haverhill 1 — Junior Luis Cruz scored the winning goal for the Red Devils (4-0-1) with 20 minutes left in the game.
Lynnfield 1, Pentucket 0 — Senior captain James Hook scored for the Pioneers.
Canton 2, Stoughton 0 — Senior Jim Kelly scored his first goal of the season for the Bulldogs (5-3).
BC High 1, Medford 0 — The Eagles’ goal was scored by senior midfilder Andrew Fontaine.
Girls’ soccer
King Philip 3, Taunton 2 — Haley Keegan netted the winner for the Warriors five minutes into the second half.
Wellesley 2, Hopkinton 1 — Bianca Webb scored both goals for the Raiders (5-1-3), bringing her season total to 13.
Ipswich 2, Triton 1 — Senior midfielder Brigid O’Flynn netted both goals for the Tigers (5-1-3).
Bishop Fenwick 8, Matignon 0 — Senior Rose Fantozzi and junior Annette Ruggiero each scored two goals for the Crusaders (4-3-3).
North Attleboro 4, Attleboro 0 — Seniors Brooke Maher and Hope Crawley each had a goal and an assist to back goalie Liz Wallace’s second shutout of the season.
Milton 5, Norwood 1 — Molly McDonough (two goals, one assist) and Kendal Stanley (two goals) powered the Wildcats.
Lynnfield 2, Pentucket 0 — Kim Duhaime and Lexie Silvonic each scored a goal for the Pioneers (4-2-3).
Greater New Bedford 5, Bourne 3 — Senior midfielder Tori Vargas got her second hat trick of the season for the Bears (4-4-2).
Shawsheen 5, Greater Lawrence 1 — Ariana Medeiros scored a goal and had two assists for the Rams.
Cambridge 2, Everett 1 — Sophomore Imogen Nelson led the Falcons (3-3-2) with two goals.
St. Mary’s 2, Austin Prep 1 — Senior Maggie Carey scored on a penalty kick with six minutes remaining to break the tie.
Franklin 2, Mansfield 1 — Senior Kristie Kirshe led the Panthers (7-0) with two goals.
Field hockey
Monomoy 5, Norwell 1 — Senior Meghan Richer scored four times for the Sharks, becoming he first player in program history to reach 100 career goals. She now has 102.
Andover 6, Lowell 0 — Senior captain Meagan Keefe led the Knights with a hat trick and Louisa Gross added two goals.
Girls’ volleyball
Andover 3, Masconomet 0 — Seniors Liz Wait had seven kills and Lauren Gibson added five for the Golden Warriors (8-0).
Fontbonne 3, Cardinal Spellman 1 — Meghan Shea had seven aces and 27 assists for the Ducks (6-2).
Canton 3, Foxborough 0 — Senior Julia Murphy led the Bulldogs (8-0) with 13 kills.
Stoughton 3, Milford 1 — Nicole Daniels had 12 kills, 4 digs, and 17 service points for the Black Knights.