Cawley keeps focus to win amateur title

Regarding his golfing career, Lynnfield native Brian Cawley made a major statement at the 32d annual North Shore Amateur Tournament.

Cawley, a senior at Salem State College, won the tournament at Far Corner in West Boxford late last month, using strong play on the back nine both days to secure the title. It was Cawley's first win at the event, which he estimated he'd played "seven or eight times" before. His two-day total of 138 (68-70) on the par 72 layout was enough to beat out the field of 90 players.

"I was very happy about the way it turned out, especially because I've been working so hard on keeping my focus down the stretch and finishing tournaments," said Cawley, 24, who chose golf as his full-time sport after spending a year playing hockey at the Tilton School in Tilton, N.H., following his graduation from Lynnfield High School.

"I've felt like for the past couple of seasons at school that playing the backs and finishing up strong was a real weakness in my game, and I knew it would be something I'd have to spend a lot of time on this summer. I was able to do that as well as handle the pressure a little better in this tournament."

Cawley is a business major at Salem State and a member of golf squad, which earned a berth in the NCAA Division 3 tournament the last two seasons. The Vikings finished 16th out of 24 teams in the tourney in 2006, and 22d out of 36 teams this spring.

He said that making the choice between golf and hockey was difficult, but his passion for golf and the prospect of being to play the sport successfully for a longer period of time were the deciding factors.

"I loved hockey and I still do," said Cawley, whose home course is the Colonial in Wakefield, after growing up playing Bear Hill in Stoneham. "But it was never something I planned to play much longer than high school. I wanted to pick one sport in college so I could focus entirely on that and my studies and not getting caught up in too much else. I think I've always felt more passionate about golf, and when it came time to make the decision I felt like I'd been getting better and wanted to see how far I could take it."

Cawley sharpened up for the North Shore Amateur by qualifying for June's Mass. Open, which was played at Kernwood Country Club in Salem, as well as the Mass. Amateur at Concord Country Club, in which he advanced to the second round in the match play format. His slate of summer play is over, as he has rejoined his Salem State teammates in preparation for the Skidmore College Invitational in Saratoga Springs, N.Y., next weekend, the Vikings' first tournament of the fall season.

"I definitely see myself continuing to play amateur tournaments after the spring season ends," said Cawley, who is planning to defend his North Shore title next summer. "I don't have any big plans about turning pro yet. I just want to take small steps, and keep honing my game and getting better. I'll make any decisions on where I go from there based on that."

Local coach, players move up in class

In college football, Chelsea native and St. John's Prep graduate Brian Kelly coached his first game for the University of Cincinnati against Southeast Missouri State on Thursday night. Kelly has moved into the ranks of the Big East Conference this season, after three years at the helm of the Central Michigan University Chippewas. Among Kelly's accomplishments prior to taking the Cincinnati job: leading CMU to the team's first Mid-American Conference title and first postseason bowl appearance in 12 years last season, as well as winning two Division 2 national championships over a 13-year stint at Grand Valley State University in Michigan.

Beverly's Armando Cuko and St. John's Prep's Chris Zardas kicked off their college careers with the University of Massachusetts at Amherst when the Minutemen hosted Holy Cross in its season opener. Cuko made his name as a kicker for the Panthers while Zardas, a native of Wakefield, plays running back. Another St. John's Prep graduate, linebacker Jonathan Goff, opened his senior season with the Vanderbilt Commodores yesterday at home against the University of Richmond, where the Lynn native was second-team All-Southern Conference last fall.

Here and there

Essex Country Club's Joe Rocha, a native of Peabody, finished ninth at the New England PGA Championship, played at Pine Brook Country Club in Weston and Belmont Country Club in Belmont. Rocha shot 71-77-70, finishing three shots behind winner Evan Belcher of Black Rock Country Club. Ipswich's George Goich, who plays out of Turner Hill, finished tied for 12th after carding a first-round 69. . . . Thanks to an amazing comeback last weekend, the North Shore Spirit clinched a berth in the CanAm League playoffs. The Spirit, who trailed the Worcester Tornados 10-0 last Sunday, exploded for 17 unanswered runs, including nine in the eighth inning, to win the game and earn the playoff spot. . . . Gordon College named assistant coach John Ryan as its new head baseball coach last week, replacing Joe Scarano. Ryan, who coached at Boston College from 1992 to 1994 and has served as the coach of Team New England Baseball for the past 12 years, is the 16th coach in Gordon baseball history. . . . Peabody won the 24th annual Gallant Little League Tournament on Tuesday, defeating Lynn, 3-0, at Stephen M. O'Grady field in Salem.

Jeremy Gottlieb is a Globe correspondent.