CENTRAL NEW YORK – It ended up quite close, but the Cazenovia boys golf team again got the best of its neighbors from Chittenango and, in a dramatic final act, claimed the “Laker Cup” from Sknaeateles.
During Tuesday’s Section III Class B fall tournament at Beaver Meadows Golf Club, the Lakers put up a team score of 434, which left it in fourth place, just ahead of the Bears’ fifth-place score of 438.
All of them trailed Westhill, who at 390 rose to the top of the standings ahead of undefeated Christian Brothers Academy, who settled for second place with 403.
Individually, Jack Byrnes led Cazenovia, tying for fifth place as he shot a six-over-par 78, which advanced him to the sectional state qualifying tournament in the spring.
Ben Orbach, shooting an 85, tied for 20th place, while Liam Colligan’s 88 brought him a tie for 22nd. Will Guider shot 89 to share 24th place. Chris Kelly shot a 92 and Nick Guider added a 98.
Chittenango’s Alex Moesch rose all the way to a tie for third place with Skaneateles’ Tyson DiRubbo, both shooting 77 as Tyrus Kelly, with a 78, matched Byrnes in that fifth-place tie.
Shooting a 79, Tanner Smith joined Kelly and Alex Moesch advancing to the state qualifier, while Ryan Moesch had a 92, well clear of Henry Miller (112) and Evan Tianello (116).
The individual title was shared by Westhill’s Anthony Maglisco and CBA’s Joe Nicholson, who both shot three-under-par 69. Aidan Ryan and Danny Young both shot 78, Devin Young had an 80 and Luke GIlmartin an 85 to help the Warriors prevail.
This was all a prelude to a Wednesday match between Cazenovia and Skaneateles that proved to be a classic, decided by a single shot as the visiting Lakers went to Skaneateles Country Club and pulled it out 212-213 to bring the Laker Cup back east.
At the top, Byrnes’ 38 trailed the 37 by Skaneateles’ Shawn Luce, while Orbach shot a 41 to finish one stroke behind DiRubbo (40) for third palce.
It took Colligan and Chris Kelly both shooting 43 to equal DiRubbo and put Cazenovia in front. And it required Nick Guider shooting exactly a 48 to have Cazenovia finish on top since Jude Pas’cal posted 46 for Skaneateles.
