By Tori Schuller
FRANKLIN, Massachusetts (August 5, 2025) – Stroke play has finished at the 107th Massachusetts Junior Amateur, Powered by KOHR Golf, and Max McColgan (Nashawtuc Country Club) is leading the way into match play.
McColgan started his round off with a 2 stroke lead over Jake Morgan (Student Member/MIAA), at Franklin Country Club this morning. With a slower start and a double bogey on his 9th hole, McColgan pulled his game together in his back nine, he finished with a 2-under-par 69. McColgan will now hold the 1-seed as action switches to match play, securing his spot as the stroke play medalist.
“I’m excited about how I played, yesterday was a little shaky, but I putted great, and I hit my driver much better today,” McColgan said. “My goal was to shoot a good score and shoot another good score, because it’s tough to put two good rounds together.”
With three successful birdie putts in his last six holes, McColgan earned a spot as the number one seed for the round of 16 match play on Wednesday.
“My goal for match play is to keep it the exact same and try to pretend I’m not playing anybody, just playing the golf course,” McColgan said. “I used to play the man in match play, and I play a lot better when I stick to my own game and play the same. And if I shoot a couple under par and he beats me, I’m not going to be upset.”
A notable round of the afternoon came from one of the few hometown players in the field, Thomas Constantine (Franklin Country Club). With a first round 3-under-par 68, Constantine started his round today tied for third place, and grabbed solo second after a birdie putt on the last for a 2-under-par 69.
“I know the course really well, I’ve been here six years, and I just didn’t want to treat it any different than a casual round with my friends,” Constantine said.
A native to Franklin, Constantine amassed a group of followers in his last few holes, mostly members from Franklin Country Club, the host for this tournament.
“It was a great feeling, the last couple holes, making birdies, last two to get good momentum and have some members out there behind me,” Constantine said.
Constantine will advance to the round of 16 on Wednesday as the second seed, taking on the 15th seed in a match Wednesday morning.
Constantine wasn’t the only local player in the field to have a crowd behind them. Tyson Laviano (Franklin Country Club) and Maxx Zides (Franklin Country Club) both advance to the round of 16 on Wednesday, with Zides advancing in a 4-person playoff for the last two spots.
With a clutch birdie putt on his last hole, Zides carried himself to the playoff opportunity, where he took one of the two spots in the round of 16, with another birdie.
“I’m just feeling happiness, I think what really helped me was just everyone coming out to watch,” Zides said. “Down the stretch I started struggling, and I guess that just kept me positive.”
Advancing into the round of 16 on Wednesday, Zides will use his home course knowledge to his advantage in his matches.
“I play this course so much that it’s second nature, I already know what club I’m hitting off the tee,” Ziles said. “I knew what my strategy was coming in, and I just tried to stick to it.”
Wednesday morning starts with the Round of 16 match play, then round of 8 in the afternoon. Thursday brings the semifinals, and the final match will occur Thursday afternoon.
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