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About six holes into his round at the Division 2 North Sectional Monday, North Andover High senior Jack McKay nearly buckled.

“I’m coming off a double-bogey, headed to one of the toughest, longest par-3s you’ll play (236-yard 16th at Hillview Country Club in North Reading), and three groups are stacked up,” said McKay. “It’s got to be 35 degrees out, and I have to sit in the cold for 20 minutes with nothing to think about but that double.”

Brandon Daniel not only led the Pentucket golf team with 29 points in a 123-103 win over Manchester Essex but he also had an eagle on the par-4 ninth hole at the Essex Country Club.

Pentucket golf's Brandon Daniels shot a career best 40 against Ipswich on Tuesday, scoring 30 points to help secure a 131-127 season-opening win. Lucas Chory followed with 25 points and Mitch Murray had 24.

With the meet in the balance, Reese Dwyer won the No. 7 spot by six points, locking down Pentucket's 142-140 victory over Lynnfield.

Led by North Andover's Max Burt's 37 in rainy conditions,  St. John's Prep defeated Malden Catholic 243-263. The Eagles (12-3) clinched a co-championship in the Catholic Conference with BC High.

Pentucket senior co-captain Chris Gilman had a match to remember against Newburyport yesterday. Along with leading the Sachems in points with 28 (he shot a 40), Gilman holed an eagle on the par-4 ninth hole at Haverhill Country Club, dropping his shot in the cup from about 145 yards out. He also had a birdie on yesterday's scorecard.

Pentucket lost a heartbreaking golf match to Masconomet, 166-165, but Crystal Knight, the Sachems' No. 1 player, provided a big highlight. Playing the 351-yard, par-5 ninth hole at Ipswich's Turner Hill, Knight nailed her drive on an uphill fairway dotted with sand traps, then placed her approach shot within a few feet of the hole. She then dropped in the putt for an impressive eagle.

Pentucket’s pairing of Jason Steele and Mac Cavanaugh placed second behind Masconomet, by shooting a 4-under 68 at Far Corner in the Cape Ann League Open. Steele was named Cape Ann League Large Player of the Year. Pentucket coach Jayne Beaton was named CAL Large Coach of the Year. Masconomet’s winning score was a 66. Steele and Cavanaugh received All-CAL honors, along with Triton’s Richard Fecteau, North Andover’s Colin Hubbel, Manchester Essex’s Ben Bichet and Masconomet’s Charlie May and Alex Kane. The Sachems weren't done, hooking up for nine more holes to knock off Lynnfield, 163-148, behind 36 points from Steele ad 31 from Corey McNamara.

The Pentucket golf team, which lost to Newburyport earlier in the season, got revenge and then some by whipping the Clippers 18 1/2 to 1 1/2. Jason Steele, Mac Cavanaugh, Corey McNamara, Jeff Funk, C.J. Ingraham, Nick Pendergast and Parker Kelly all won their matches for the Sachems (14-2-1). Ingraham shot a 38 as the No. 6 man and Pendergast fired a 39 at No. 7.

Pentucket-Georgetown won the River Rival Tourney for the first time in 2001 and did it in convincing fashion. Jason Steele shot an even par 35 and earned 36 quota points to rule the four-team tourney. Alex Ministeri was the No. 2 player overall on the day with 32 points.

The Pentucket and Masconomet golf teams battled to a rare 10-10 tie yesterday despite impressive winning performances by Jason Steele, Mac Cavanaugh, Nick Pendergast and Krystal Knight.

Freshman Krystal Knight, in her second varsity match, was Pentucket-Georgetown's No. 3 scorer in a 153-126 win over Amesbury.

In her first career varsity match, freshman Krystal Knight was an 18-16 winner, helping Pentucket's golf team defeat Ipswich, 172-117.

Pentucket's golf team finally got over the hump. After coming close to beating Masconomet last season, the Sachems came through yesterday for the first time in coach Jayne Beaton's five-year tenure. Alex Ministeri helped Pentucket take an early lead, and when the Chieftains started to rebound, Parker Kelly (22 points) won the last match of day to lock up the victory.

Jason Steele of Pentucket scored an eagle from 125 yards out on the 5th hole at Haverhill Country Club. Steele finished with a 33, three under par, and had 40 points in Pentucket's win over North Reading.