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  • TIM JEAN/Staff photo. Windham junior Connor Greenleaf is just the fourth golfer to win Eagle-Tribune All-Star honors twice.

    Greenleaf 120612

  • agateText bold to dash:JAN SEEGER/Staff photo. A player to watch, Tyler Nelson, 14, of Haverhill, will be a freshman at Central Catholic this coming year. Nelson works out with a long-time friend, and student at Phillips Academy, Thomas Palleschi, 16, of Haverhill, as the two practice at Cedardale, in Haverhill, Friday.

    nelson

  • Taylor Simpson

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  • agateText bold to dash:TIM JEAN/Staff photo. Windham and Pelham's top two golfers, from left, Connor Greenleaf, 16, Andrew Kalil, 17, Alex Newton, 17, and Jake Vaknoras, 16, will battel it out in the state tournament. Both Windham and Pelham High School golf teams are undefeated. 10/3/12

    connor and jake

  • Alec Brown

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December 5, 2012

Windham's Greenleaf exceeds the hype

The Eagle-Tribune

Eagle-Tribune All-Star Golf Team

Name School Year

Tyler Nelson Central Jr.

Scott Farley Haverhill Sr.

Taylor Simpson Londonderry Sr.

Alec Brown North Andover Sr.

Jake Vaiknoras Pelham Jr.

* Connor Greenleaf Windham Jr.

* 2012 Eagle-Tribune MVP

Honorable Mention

Andover: Brett Krekorian, Jr.; Tyler Stahl, Sr.

Central Catholic: Ryan Mahoney, Jr.

Haverhill: Ryan Paris, Sr.

Lawrence: Dantae Neal, Soph.

Londonderry: Ryan Broderick, Jr.; Nick Stone, Jr.

Methuen: Jon Pierce, Jr.; Patrick Hambleton, Sr.

North Andover: Justin Myerson, Jr.

North Reading: Dennis Rollfs, Jr.

Pelham: Alex Newton, Sr.; Nick Neary, Sr.

Pentucket-Georgetown: Krystal Knight, Soph.; Jeff Funk, Sr.

Pinkerton: Nick Salema, Sr.

Salem: Ryan Henrick, Jr.

Sanborn: Chris Pasto, Jr.; Chris Palladino, Jr.

Timberlane: Jameson Collins, Sr.; Brendan Crowley, Jr.

Windham: Andrew Kalil, Sr.; Adam Dolan, Jr.

Greenleaf accustomed to taking on the best

When you trade swings with the big boys like junior phenoms Beau Hossler and Brad Dalke at the U.S. Junior Championships in the summer, you become a marked man.

Windham’s Connor Greenleaf more than answered the call.

Leading the Jaguars to a perfect season was one thing. Doing it as he fought off Lyme disease was another.

“At one point, it was just terrible. I remember vomiting in a high school match and continuing on,” he said. “But only in the last three weeks did things start to get better.”

Windham’s medalist in all but one dual meet, he carded 36 or under for nine holes seven times.

But it was the courageous comeback, from down four shots after Day 1 to win the State Division 2 individual title, that made Greenleaf’s season.

He shot the round of the season, a 70 in nasty weather at Canterbury Woods on Day 2 — the low round of the tourney by three shots — to ice the victory.

Greenleaf, a 16-year-old junior, was named Eagle-Tribune MVP for the second time, making him the fourth repeat winner in the 24-year history of the award. As a freshman at Central Catholic, he earned the honor as well.

Greenleaf, who has several Division 1 colleges recruiting him, is a three-time Eagle-Tribune All-Star.

He’s working hard preparing for invitational event at Doral in Florida later this month.

Former Eagle-Tribune MVPs

2011: Joe Leavitt, Central; 2010: Connor Greenleaf, Central; 2009: Jeff Cohen, Salem; 2008: Dan Kish, Pinkerton; 2007: Rich Campiola, Central; 2006: Colin Brennan, Andover; 2004-05: Rich Berberian, Pinkerton; 2003: Ryan Furey, Methuen; 2002: Eric Boucher, Central;

2001: Jon Emerson, Salem; 2000: Dan Koerner, Methuen; 1999: Jeff Castle, Pinkerton; 1998: Jinsoo Joo, Andover; 1996-97: Rob Oppenheim, Andover; 1993-95: Dave Shaffer, Andover; 1992: Jim Doherty, Methuen; 1991: Keith Cutler, Haverhill; 1990: Marc Spencer, Haverhill; 1989: Ryan Ouellette, Central

TYLER NELSON, Central Catholic Junior

All-scholastic. Three-year letterman. Shot 76 at Vesper to win MVC title. Conference MVP. Went 10-2 at No. 1 with 36.5 stroke average. Fired 72 at Division 1 North Sectionals at Bradford, taking second. “Brings a competitive edge from basketball to the course, which makes him tough to beat,” said coach Vin Pastore. Already has basketball scholarship offer from UMass Lowell.

SCOTT FARLEY, Haverhill Senior

Led Hillies to first MVC Division I title since 1997. Went 12-2-1 at No. 1 with 36.4 stroke average. Tied for second in MVC Open with 77 at Vesper. Shot 77 to tie for 10th at Division 1 North Sectionals to qualify for States. Team MVP. Four-year letterman. Captain in golf and hockey. Father is North Andover High coach/North Andover CC pro Peter Farley. His brother, Craig, was a 2010 Eagle-Tribune All-Star.

TAYLOR SIMPSON, Londonderry Senior

Captain with a 38.1 stroke average. Scored Lancers’ low round in 8 of 9 matches. Fired 1-under 35 at Salem. Shot 1-under 35 at Atkinson CC including a hole-in-one on 190-yard third hole. Stunned three-time state champ Chelso Barrett in regular season. Tied for fifth at Division 1 States, shooting 78-75—153. “His determination and mental toughness were unmatched,” said coach Scott Sicard. Also plays basketball.

ALEC BROWN, North Andover Senior

MVC Division 2 MVP. Four-year letterman. Captain. Finished 9-1-2 at No. 1 with 36.6 stroke average. Placed fifth at MVC Open with a 78. Tied for fifth in Division 2 North at 79. Shot 81 at Division 2 States. “Our leader, tremendous work ethic, very organized, always prepared for the next match or tournament,” said coach Peter Farley. Shot a 2-over 71 at Mt. Hood last summer. Active in Best Buddies Program.

JAKE VAIKNORAS, Pelham Junior

Led Pythons to 22-0 regular season. Scoring average of 36.5. Medalist in seven of nine matches. Finished second with 79-78—157 at Division 3 States. “Very hard worker, made teammates follow his example,” said his father and coach Joe Vaiknoras. Batted .341 as third-team All-Division 2 shortstop in baseball. Averaged 9.9 points with 30 3-pointers in basketball. Older brother Jesse was 3-sport athlete at Pelham.

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