Members of the Hopkinton High School boys golf team (from left) senior Nate Spinale, senior Wes Bushey, senior Alvin Zhong, sophomore Liam MacLennan, junior Ryan Moore, freshman Walter Stevenson and coach Bill Phaneuf pose for a picture before leaving HHS for Monday’s Division 1 Central sectional tournament. PHOTO/RACHEL STEVENSON

The Hopkinton High School boys golf team earned a spot in Monday’s Division 1 Central sectional tournament and placed ninth in the large field, with two players firing sub-80 rounds at Kettle Brook Golf Club in Paxton.

Senior captain Alvin Zhong and sophomore Liam MacLennan each shot 6-over-par 78 to lead the way for the Hillers, who were plus-34 as a team. Zhong and MacLennan tied for 22nd in the individual competition.

The tournament followed a regular season in which Hopkinton went 11-6 and defended its home course at Hopkinton Country Club well.

“I think we expected to make the sectional, but you never know,” said coach Bill Phaneuf. “Some of the teams in the Tri-Valley League like Norwood and Norton were better than they have ever been. And going against the big D1 schools in the sectionals is a challenge.”

Zhong was a consistent No. 1 player for Hopkinton all season. He medaled in multiple matches and shot as low as 35. He consistently finished between 39 and 41. MacLennan was similarly consistent and emerged as the team’s No. 2 player after playing sparingly a season ago.

The Hillers also were lifted by freshman Walter Stevenson, who shot 82 at the sectional.

“He got into the lineup early and stayed in most of the time,” Phaneuf said, noting that it was the first time in several years that a freshman had played such a big role.

“I knew he was a good player,” the coach said. “I wasn’t sure if he would stay in the mix all year, but he has.”

Hopkinton featured some depth this year as well. Ryan Moore, Nate Spinale and Wes Bushey all contributed to the lineup that played in the sectional tournament. The Hillers’ depth also helped the team finish first in the TVL Large division, thanks to a nail-biter of a win over Norwood.

“It’s nice to say you’re the winner of the league, and [Norwood] was a very, very good team,” Phaneuf said.

With the Oct. 14 match at Hopkinton Country Club coming down to the wire, sophomore Ben Brooks clinched the victory with a birdie on the final hole to shoot 35 out of the No. 8 spot, besting his opponent by 6 strokes and turning a 3-shot Hopkinton deficit into a 3-shot win (238-241).

“It was down to the wire, and the last guy in birdies the last hole to give us the title,” Phaneuf said. “That was pretty cool.”