It proved quite an eventful Wednesday afternoon for the West Genesee and Westhill boys golf teams as each took part in crucial mid-season matches, with varying results.
The Wildcats hosted Fayetteville-Manlius and suffered its first defeat of the season, falling 189-194 to the Hornets at Westvale as they now stood tied atop the Salt City Athletic Conference Metro division, each with 5-1 records.
Nick Bove won a tight individual race by shooting 36 for nine holes, but three F-M players – Adam Butch, Velton Perry and Jordan Krouse – tied for second with 37.
They helped to overcome the trio of Wildcats – Connor Barry, Jack Gordon and Dan Benetti – that each shot 39, while 42s were posted by Lucius Allen, Tim Dipaola and Peyton Mullane.
Now the Wildcats had to turn around and face Baldwinsville Thursday at Timber Banks, having already beaten them head-to-head on Aug. 24 but then finishing second to the Bees in the Drumlins Invitational a few days later.
Here, it would go 191-202 in B’ville’s favor, this despite Bove posting a four-under-par 32, matching that of the Bees’ Max Dec in a classic individual showdown.
The Bees’ depth and home-course advantage won out. Anthony Petragnani, with a 38, and Vic Ianno, with a 39, beat out Allen (40) for the third and fourth spots.
Once in front, B’ville stayed there thanks to rounds of 41 by Alex Pompo and Aiden Farmer, ahead of Dipaola and Jacob Weaver, who each finished at 43. Kevin McDermott had a 44, but Benetti struggled to a 48.
Westhill had gone through an up-and-down start, but on Wednesday it hosted unbeaten Christian Brothers Academy and put an end to the Brothers’ six-match win streak, the Warriors prevailing 224-230.
The key to Westhill’s win was having three of the top four individual totals. Anthony Maglisco’s 41 at Camillus Country Club matched that of CBA’s Joe Nicholson, while Michael Britt, with a 43, and Andrew Corning, with a 44, took the next two spots.
Then Aidan Ryan posted a 47 and James Hunt got a 49, enough to hold off the Brothers, who got 46s from Dan Angelo and Jack MacLachlan, a 48 from Brent Savage and a 49 from Mike Santoro.
On Thursday, Westhill kept it up, winning 226-244 over Skaneateles. Only Magslico, shooting a 38 at Camillus Country Club, broke 40 as Ty Jones led the Lakers with a 41. Ryan had a 45 to finish third and Britt posted a 46 for fourth place.
