Promising golfers take center stage

12:00AM / Wednesday, June 12, 2002Print Story | Email Story

All in all, Berkshire high school golf teams had a remarkable season. St. Josephâ€™s of Pittsfield won the State Division 3 crown for the third time (1996 and 2000) last month at the Egremont Country Club, with junior Mike Quallen taking the individual title with a 76. Pittsfield High School finished third May 28 in the Division 1 tourney at Easton Country Club with a fourth individual place for sophomore Donnie Troy with a 74. In Division 2 play, Mount Greylock Regional was hoping to improve on last yearâ€™s second place behind Bishop Stang of Dartmouth, particularly when the championship June 3 was to be held on Waubeeka Golf Links. Although the Mounties train and play at Taconic Golf Club where they are coached by Taconic assistant pro Jim McDonald, the team made up entirely of seniors has had a lot of experience on the Waubeeka Links. But it was not to be and Bishop Stang repeated as champions, with Gateway Regional second, Arlington Catholic third and Drury fifth. Greylock had won the Western Mass 2 crown May 28 at Crumpin-Fox in Bernardston, prevailing over Gateway in a tiebreaker, when Matt Gajda shot an 87, eleven strokes better than Gatewayâ€™s fifth player. Drury finished third in its first try for the state tourney, with no seniors on the team coached by veteran mentor Frank Zoltek. Playing at No. 1, Greylockâ€™s John Kildahl led his team with a 77. But at Waubeeka, when the five best Division 2 teams in the Commonwealth competed under ideal conditions, nothing went as hoped for and Kildahl again was top Mountie, but with a disappointing 84. Fellow seniors Brendan Murray carded 87; Max Sann, 97; Nick Wells-Bundtzen, 93; Matt Gajda, 86; and Alex Whitman, 93. â€œWe just did not meet our expectations,â€ said Kildahl, who added that the senior prom scheduled for that night might have diminished their focus to a degree. Kildahl has a right to expect big things. After all, he towers above most of his teammates, standing 6 foot four inches. And at a substantial 255 pounds, he expects John Daly distances. The son of Kent Kildahl and Catherine Hill (Williams provost and professor of economics) will enter Williams in the fall and will be a candidate for the highly ranked Division 3 Eph team. And he is leaving Friday for Ireland, where he will do construction work for an uncle and play on some of the Emerald Isleâ€™s historic courses. All of his teammates are college bound too, with aspirations of continuing their competitive golf. Murray and Whitman will attend golf powerhouse Skidmore, Sann will be at Monmouth in New Jersey, Wells-Bundtzen at Gettysburg, and Gajda at Endicott. Among the two best high school golfers in recent years were Jim Salinetti of Lee High and Joey Pohle of Mount Greylock, whose father Rick is the PGA Pro at Taconic and a big winner on the local pro golfers scene, consisting of teaching pros in the Tri-State area. Salinetti went to the University of Rhode Island and was joined there by Pohl a couple of years later. Both were on the URI team, but after one year Pohle transferred to Skidmore and received his degree there last month. Both Salinetti and Pohle won numerous college and university honors, as well as various amateur championships. The Taconic Golf Club entrance sign indicates that Joey Pohle was a winner of the New England Amateur Championship. Salinetti turned pro and spends winters on the Southern mini-tour circuit. Last week he entered the New England Pro Tour event at the Green Mountain National Golf Club, but failed to make the cut. Pohle, whose honors include being named Division 3 NCAA Player of the year, does not plan a pro tour future and is taking most of the summer off the golf circuit, working for the Yankee Candle Company Restaurant in South Deerfield. Zoltekâ€™s Drury team: Kevin Lamb, Mitch Spooner, Walt Pecor, Bryce Maruco, Ross Williams and Mike DiPaoli, will be back next season, aiming for another state appearance. McDonald will be working with an all new starting lineup. Cops are supposed to be withstand adversity and they certainly proved it last Thursday at Waubeeka in the annual Berkshire County Law Enforcement Committeeâ€™s Kidsâ€™ Place & Violence Prevention Center Benefit. Despite vicious, cold rain and wind, nearly 200 members and guests got in their 18 holes before celebrating their endurance. John Hitchcock of Williamstown writes frequently about the area sports scene.

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Weekend Outlook: Mount Greylock, Shakespeare Day

By Breanna SteeleiBerkshires Staff
12:22PM / Thursday, May 21, 2026

Check out the events happening this weekend including birding, theater, and more to welcome the warmer weather.

Here is a list of Memorial Day events happening around the county.

Editor's Picks

Mount Greylock Summit Opening Day
Mount Greylock, Adams

Welcome the warm weather on the state's highest peak. Bascom Lodge opens Saturday at 10 a.m. A live raptor demonstration is at noon on Saturday; beekeeping presentation from 11 to 2 and presentation on the Greylock Glen at 5:30 on Sunday.

The War Memorial will also be open. Tours and a presentation on the "Tower of Remembrance" will be held on Sunday and Monday at 1 and 2 p.m. Meet at the bronze map.

More information here.

Shakespeare & Company Community Day
70 Kemble St., Lenox
Time: Saturday, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.

The event features live demonstrations and performances, scavenger hunts, film screenings, food trucks, and dozens of other local nonprofits sharing the ways they serve the Berkshires — and beyond.

More information here.

Friday

Wine and Warblers
Pleasant Valley Wildlife Sanctuary, Lenox
Time: 5 to 7 p.m.

Enjoy a glass of wine and look for migratory birds like warblers, orioles, and other spring arrivals.

Tickets: $35 for members, $42 for nonmembers.

More information here.

Ronnie's Harley-Davidson Bike Night
Ronnie's Cycles, Pittsfield
Time: 5 to 8 p.m.

Ronnie's Cycles celebrates its 70th year with vendors, drinks, food, music, and more. Bring your bike to show off against others.

More information here.

Friday Karaoke
Dalton American Legion
Time: 6 p.m.

More information here.

Common Craft Night
165 East Main St., North Adams
Time: 6 to 8 p.m.

Bring a craft you have been working on and join others to socialize.

More information here.

Saturday

Community Bike Ride
886 Crane Ave., Pittsfield
Time: 10 to noon

Take a bike ride with others in your community. Come earlier and decorate your bike and complete a bike safety check. This is open to ages 5 and up.

More information here.

Radical Reptile Series
Berkshire Athenaeum, Pittsfield
Time: 10:30 to 11:45 a.m.

Second of a three-part series on reptiles and amphibians introduced by The Reptile Nook. This Saturday will focus on the world of lizards, and next Saturday on snakes.

More information here.

Pine Cobble Annual Plant Sale
Pine Copple School, Williamstown
Time: 8 a.m. to 1 p.m.

The school's annual fundraiser features perennials, annuals and houseplants. Donations accepted.

More information here.

Mayfest

Downtown Bennington, Vt.

Time: 10 to 5

The 39th annual arts and crafts festival with more than 100 vendors. Free and family friendly with live performances, food trucks and local restaurant and downtown business specials. Held on Main and School streets.

More information here.

Sunday

Introduction to Bird Watching
Pleasant Valley Wildlife Sanctuary, Lenox
Time: 9 to 11 a.m.

Interested in learning about the birds and trying to catch a glimpse of all the different types? Join Mass Audubon and practice birding. Bring your own binoculars, some loaners available.

More information and register here.

Farmer's Markets

Great Barrington Farmers Market

18 Church St.

Saturday: 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

The market is open every Saturday. Every week, locally grown food, flowers, and plants will be available, along with other local vendors. The market accepts and offers doubling SNAP, HIP, WIC, and Senior market coupons. More information is here.

Lee Farmers Market
The Town Park
Saturday: 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

The market offers locally grown produce, prepared foods, locally created arts and crafts, and herbal products. YogaLee offers free community yoga from 9:30 to 10:30 on the first Saturday of each month.

The market accepts SNAP, HIP, Senior Coupons, and WIC Coupons and also offers Market Match. More information here.

Lenox Farmers Market
St. Ann's Church
Fridays: 11 to 3.

This market is open every Friday through Sept. 12 and features fresh produce, pastries, cheeses, and more.

More information here.

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