A neat aspect of area golf is the post-high school and post-college success several have enjoyed.
Andover’s Rob Oppenheim took his talents all the way to the PGA tour. Rich Berberian competed in PGA tour events, too.
They were both two-time Eagle-Tribune MVPs, but two others won the “Triple Crown” as three-time MVPs.
The only ones to do that were future West Point golfer James McKee (2014-16 at Windham) and Connor Greenleaf, who did it one year at Central Catholic and then twice at Windham High.
Former Central Catholic star and 2011 MVP Joe Leavitt just returned to competitive golf after five years away and won the Joseph F. Healey Memorial Golf Championship.
Haverhill’s Tommy Murphy took home our MVP honors this past fall. He’s the son Haverhill High coach and former Hillie great Kevin Murphy. They’re part of a legendary golfing family.
Our 2024 honoree Central Catholic Harry Garland went on to play at Methodist University in North Carolina. In 2023 it was Brendan Burke of North Andover, and the year before that it was Noah Farland of Andover.
In 1981, we listed Haverhill High’s Paul Cortese as the top player in the area. So we include him unofficially as that year’s MVP. With his play as the perennial champ in the local Rogers Golf Tourney, he’s deserving.
Ryan Ouellette of Salem was a basketball and golf star at Central Catholic.
I’d be stunned if the greatest area foursome of all-time wasn’t from Haverhill. We have a great shot of Hillies Keith Cutler and Marc Spencer, both Eagle-Tribune MVPs, along with stars Kevin Murphy and Billy Drohen.
It’s not easy being the younger brother of a multi-time Olympian, but people forget how good Ryan Furey was. Javelin great Sean Furey‘s younger brother was our MVP in golf and a standout hoopster for the Rangers.
Another Ranger MVP was Dan Koerner. Jon Emerson starred for Salem when the Blue Devils were a power.
One of the great stories of recent years was Pinkerton’s Lauren Thibodeau. She beat out all the guys to be named Eagle-Tribune MVP and now is starring for Louisville.