Jacoby Light, the captain of the high school golf team, capped off an impressive season with a top-25 finish on Oct. 28 in the state championship at Taconic Golf Club in Williamstown with an 81 on his scorecard.

As a Vineyarder who spends his summers caddying at the Vineyard Golf Club and playing home matches at Farm Neck, the hills of Taconic tucked up in the Northwestern-most area of Massachusetts presented a unique challenge. However, Light said it was a challenge he embraced and enjoyed, and after a practice round with Coach Henry Smith the day before, he was ready to test his mettle.

“It was a whole different variety of golf,” Light said. “It’s beautiful up there, but so different from what we have here.”

Ranked the number one public course in Massachusetts by Golf Magazine and number one for scenic beauty in the Commonwealth by the Boston Globe, Taconic wasn’t originally supposed to be the location for the state championship. A week before, at Foxborough Country Club, Light, his father Jeremy and Coach Smith got in a practice round, but the next day it poured and left competitors wondering where they would be teeing off next.

And of course, it would be the farthest possible place from the Vineyard. However, with another week to prepare, the trip was worth the haul, and Coach Smith said Light’s 81 was a very solid score on a very difficult golf course.

“It’s a true championship golf course; it was a tall task,” the coach said. “The greens were expert level, really fast, really difficult, and he handled himself very well.”

On the 16th, the course’s number one handicap, Light found himself in a tough spot. Lying three on a par four, he chipped in from 30 yards out to save par.

“It was an unbelievable shot, definitely the best shot I saw all season,” Coach Smith said.

Previously, in the qualifying round at Lebaron Hills Country Club in Lakeville, Light was in a similar situation. He was nine over par and needed to finish in the top 10 to qualify for states. On the par five 16th, he hit his third shot from 55 yards out that nearly rolled in for eagle. With a tap-in birdie, he made par on the final two holes and finished tied for eighth.

“The course was barely playable, there was casual water everywhere,” Coach Smith said of the LeBaron Hills round, which was played in the remnants of a northeaster.

“But those kinds of conditions play to Jacoby’s advantage; he doesn’t let himself get out of the round. He’s used to playing in tough conditions out here. He handles adversity really well, and that’s one of his strengths,” he continued.

Coach Smith said Light’s other big strength is his leadership, which makes him a great team captain.

“He’s a competitor, he takes it very seriously and really cares about his teammates and what we do. I picked him because he leads by example, he does that really well,” the coach said. “Jacoby helps me hold the team to a very high standard. We have a very competitive schedule, and we put our nose to the grindstone.”

For Light, his love of the game has grown with being in a place where young Island golfers can thrive.

“Being around golf for 90 days a year is the best,” Light said. “All the caddies and members at Vineyard offering their tips and tricks of the game have been a big help. It feeds my love of the game. It’s hard not to love.”

Now, as the seasons turn and the links close for the winter, Light will trade his spikes for sneakers and shift his focus to basketball. Last year, he averaged nearly 17 points a game and is again poised to play a big role in the Vineyarders’ offense.